August 03, 2017

August 2017 Investor Letter

August 03, 2017/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +10% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Gold Trader focuses on capturing the strongest and weakest parts of gold's daily cycle, buying daily cycle lows, selling daily cycle highs and holding for 10-20 trading days, depending on the cycle count. This approach allows me to effectively manage risk. The strategy aims to capture +5%-6% profit per trade while risking 2%-3% each time and has a win rate in excess of 70%.

Executive Summary

Since my last report published on 17th May (apologies for the delay in getting this one out), global equities have declined -1.1% in euro terms, Eurozone government bonds have rallied +0.4% and gold priced in euros has fallen -4.8%. Currency moves have negatively impacted Active Asset Allocator returns in recent months with the USD falling -6% and GBP falling 4% versus the Euro during that time. All is not lost however and this month I highlight my bullish expectations for precious metals for the second half of 2017 and beyond. I think gold is on the cusp of a significant move higher.

This month I also review Bob Farrell's 10 rules of investing and discuss how they apply to the markets (particularly the stock market) today. Farrell is a stock market veteran who cut his teeth on Wall Street during the 1950's and experienced many of the equity booms and busts that followed over the next five decades. Farrell crafted his 10 rules of investing based on those experiences and lessons learned. For now, I remain defensively positioned in the Active Asset Allocator with 20% equities / 40% bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

Gold Trader Trade 14 (-2.6%) and Trade 15 (+0.6%) closed in July. Trade 16 is open and +1% so far. Click here to view the August 2017 Investor Letter.

Stock Market Update

I was reminded recently of Bob Farrell and his 10 rules of investing, wisdom he accumulated over an illustrious career on Wall Street spanning five decades. Farrell joined Merrill Lynch in 1957 as a technical analyst after completing a Masters degree at Columbia Business School where he studied under Benjamin Graham and David Dodd, authors of the investment bible 'Security Analysis'. Farrell witnessed many bull and bear markets throughout his career and crafted his 10 rules of investing based on those experiences and lessons learned. This month, I review Farrell's 10 rules and see how they apply to markets today.

1: Markets tend to return to the mean over time. Trends in one direction or another eventually exhaust themselves and price moves back to test the long-term moving average. This generally happens every few years. The epic bull run in stock markets has swung from oversold in 2009 to overbought today. Even in strong bull markets, investors should expect the long-term moving average to be tested every couple of years. Today, the S&P 500 is 20% above its long-term moving average, while the Eurostoxx 600 is 7% above its long-term trend.

2: Excesses in one direction will lead to an opposite excess in the other direction. Markets that overshoot on the upside will also overshoot on the downside. The New York Stock Exchange publishes data for margin debt at the end of each month. Margin debt represents the extent to which investors borrow to invest in the stock market. Bull markets breed (over)confidence and confident investors borrow to invest in the stock market. Margin debt surged on three occasions since 1995 coinciding with the last three bull market peaks. Today, NYSE margin debt has never been higher. Ever!

3: There are no new eras – excesses are never permanent. There are always hot stocks and sectors of the market that attract speculative capital. Some lead to speculative bubbles but they never last. Today, internet sensations Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google and the cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum fall into this category. They are attracting a lot of hot money but chasers will be punished, eventually. It always happens.

4: Exponential rapidly rising or falling markets usually go further than you think, but they do not correct by going sideways. Bullish and bearish trends generally last longer than expected. However once the trends end, they are followed by sharp reversals. The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite and Nasdaq 100 indices are two examples of exponentially rising stock markets followed by sharp reversals. In China, this occurred in 2008 and again in 2015. In the US, the Nasdaq bubble popped in 2001 and again in 2008. Another appears not too far away.

5: The public buys the most at the top and the least at the bottom. The average investor is most bullish at market tops and most bearish at market bottoms. When the marginal buyer turns into the marginal seller, a bear market begins and endures until panic sets in, the speculative buyers have been forced to sell and investor sentiment turns pessimistic. This roller coaster of sentiment and emotion is what defines a market.

6: Fear and greed are stronger than long-term resolve. Human emotion is the enemy when it comes to investing in the stock market. Successful investing requires discipline, patience and a cool head. Sharp declines lead to fear; sharp rallies lead to overconfidence and investor complacency. The Vix index is an excellent barometer that captures fear and greed in the stock market. Low readings in the Vix Index go hand in hand with investor confidence and limited demand for insurance to hedge against stock market declines. Spikes in the Vix Index coincide with periods of sharp selling in the stock market as panic sets in. Today, the Vix index is trading near ALL TIME LOWS.

7: Markets are strongest when they are broad and weakest when they narrow to a handful of blue-chip names. Stock market breadth and volume are important indicators of underlying strength of a stock market advance. When participation is broad, stock market rallies have endurance and momentum and are difficult to stop. When participation is confined to just a few large-cap stocks, rallies have less credibility, momentum and strength. Today, stock market breadth remains quite firm. The Advance/Decline line (lower left chart) continues to make new highs, signalling that the majority of stocks remain in an uptrend. However, initial signs of deterioration are showing up in the number of net new highs being made on the NYSE. This occurred just prior to every correction in the past.

8: Bear markets have three stages – sharp down, reflexive rebound and a drawn-out fundamental downtrend. The typical pattern in a bear market decline involves a sharp sell-off, an equally sharp reversal higher and then a long, slow grind lower until valuations become compelling once again. The reflexive rebound separating each decline is designed to keep the believers invested and encourage 'falling knife' catchers.

9: When all the experts and forecasts agree – something else is going to happen. If everyone's optimistic, there is nobody left to buy. Excessive bullish sentiment can be damaging to your financial health. If often pays to adopt a contrarian investment strategy and take a more defensive position when the herd becomes overly confident about the market's future prospects.

10: Bull markets are more fun than bear markets. This is true for most investors and fund managers who have long-only investment mandates and are typically fully invested all the time.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

German 10-year bond yields have rallied 6 basis points since my last report while US 10-year treasury yields have fallen 7 basis points. Bonds continue to hold their own and are preparing for their next leg higher (and lower in yields) as the bull market in equities finally rolls over and a sharp equity bear market begins. The secular low in bond yields still lies somewhere in the future.

Meanwhile, the trend in inflation-linked bonds remains steadily higher, albeit at a relatively modest pace. Currency has impacted euro-denominated returns in 2017 YTD, as weakness in GBP and USD in particular have not fed through to higher inflation-linked bond prices in local currency terms. A weakening currency will lead to rising input costs, particularly in a country like the US, which is the world's second largest importer of goods and services ($2.7 trillion in 2016). Rising input costs are inflationary. I expect the inflation-linked bond allocation in the Active Asset Allocator to make a more meaningful contribution to performance over the next few years.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

Gold is setting up for a big move, so let me lay out my expectations for what I believe will happen over the remainder of 2017 and beyond. Gold's first task is to break above $1,300, which I expect will happen in August or September. A break above $1,300 would be significant for a number of reasons. Gold made a series of higher lows in 2017 since the washout decline to $1,124 in December 2016. Gold trading above $1,300 adds support to the view that the bear market in precious metals (2011-2016) has ended and a new bull market has begun confirmed by a rising trend in the gold price.

A break above $1,300 would also be significant as it would confirm a break out of the longer-term triangle consolidation that has been in place since gold topped at $1,923 in 2011. Once we get a good close above $1,300, I expect a sharp run higher towards $1,400 or $1,500 before the next consolidation. $1,500 represented strong support in 2011 and 2012 before it gave way in 2013, so I expect gold will take some time to get back above that level. After $1,500, I expect gold will challenge and ultimately exceed the all time highs above $1,900, probably in 2019. Once gold clears $1,900, I believe the bubble phase in precious metals will begin and gold will have a monster move higher in an epic bull market that will be a sight to behold..... but let's not get ahead of ourselves. $1,300 in August/September, $1,400-$1,500 by year-end and $1,900 in 2019, which is 50% above today's gold price.

I expect the bull market in precious metals will go hand in hand with a currency crisis in the world's reserve currency, the US dollar. I have shown the following chart on a number of occasions in previous reports. It is a chart of the USD Index from 1980 to today (red and black line) and USD gold (blue). The USD Index has made a series of lower highs and lower lows over the last 37 years. After it's run higher in 2014/2015, the USD Index appears now to have topped and started another multi-year decline, which should ultimately break to new all time lows in the years ahead.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

May 17, 2017

May 2017 Investor Letter

May 17, 2017/ Secure Investments/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Executive Summary

Over the last couple of months, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google together have added $260 billion in market capitalisation. Meanwhile, the other 495 companies in the S&P 500 have lost a similar amount. Market leadership is narrowing to just a handful of names, a trend that often occurs at the tail end of a bull market. Smart investors are taking note. Paul Singer recently raised $5 billion to take advantage of opportunities when investor confidence becomes impaired and volatility spikes. Warren Buffett is sitting on 22% cash in his investment company Berkshire Hathaway. We are getting close.

Bonds have had a quiet couple of months but as long as 3% on the 10-year US Treasury and 1% on the 10-year German Bund hold, I continue to believe that the final low in yields of this multi-decade bull market lies somewhere in our future. The price action in gold could provide the clue to the timing of the turn (lower in stocks, higher in bonds and gold). Gold Trader is looking to catch the top of gold's fourth daily cycle before the final descent into a medium-term low in June. Once next month's low is in place, I expect a powerful move higher over the Summer, possibly to $1,500, as the stock market finally rolls over.

Stock Market Update

Paul Singer's hedge fund Elliott Management raised $5 billion in 24 hours last week to take advantage of a potential major investment opportunity set that could emerge "when investor confidence is impaired, recent correlations and assumptions don't work and prices are changing rapidly". Singer, one of the most successful hedge fund managers of all time, is expecting a sharp rise in volatility and some unpleasant consequences for investors in the not too distant future. He is not the only one. Warren Buffett is currently holding 22% cash - nearly $100 billion - in his investment company Berkshire Hathaway. Two titans of the investment industry are on edge and concerned about the outlook for global markets.

Back in May 2013, Paul Singer penned an excellent article describing the moral hazard that has been created by the Federal Reserve. (The full article is available in the Research section of my website at the following link: In the Wilderness). In the article, Singer lambastes the Federal Reserve for the dangerous policies they have pursued and the unintended consequences that have yet to be felt from their reckless and irresponsible actions.

“If you look at the history of Fed policy from Greenspan to Bernanke, you see two broad and destructive paths quite clearly. One path is the cult of central banking, in which the central bank gradually acquired the mantle of all-knowing guru and maestro, capable of fine-tuning the global economy and financial system, despite their infinite complexity. On this path traveled arrogance, carelessness and a rigid and narrow orthodoxy substituting for an open-minded quest to understand exactly what the modern financial system actually is and how it really works. The second path is one of lower and lower discipline, less and less conservative stewardship of the precious confidence that is all that stands between fiat currency and monetary ruin. Monetary debasement in its chronic form erodes people’s savings. In its acute and later stages, it can destroy the social cohesion of a society as wealth is stolen and/or created not by ideas, effort and leadership, but rather by the wild swings of asset prices engendered by the loss of any anchor to enduring value. In that phase, wealth and credit assets (debt) are confiscated or devalued by various means, including inflation and taxation, or by changes to laws relating to the rights of asset holders. Speculators win, savers are destroyed, and the ties that bind either fray or rip. We see no signs that our leaders possess the understanding, courage or discipline to avoid this.”

— Paul Singer, Elliott Management, May 2013.

One of the consequences of continuous central bank intervention in capital markets has been the emergence of the short volatility trade as investor confidence levels ratchet up once again. A tremendous amount of capital has been placed on bets that volatility will remain suppressed for the foreseeable future. This, at a time when the Vix Index (below) is trading at multi-decade lows. Over the past 13 trading days, the S&P 500 has traded within a range of 1.01%, the least volatile 13 days in history! Volatility spikes and rapid changes in price are what Paul Singer is preparing for.

The Vix Index is a measure of the volatility of S&P 500 index options and is considered a prescient gauge of investor confidence (when the Vix is low) and fear (when the Vix spikes higher).

Another direct consequence of continuous central bank intervention has been the reach for yield as investors are forced out of low risk cash and into higher risk investments in the search for income and a reasonable investment return. Total assets in Rydex Money Market Funds have now also fallen to multi-decade lows.....

.... at a time when stock market valuations and margin debt as a percentage of nominal GDP have rarely been higher.

There is also a potential negative divergence now appearing in the S&P 500 where price is breaking out to new all-time highs but relative strength and momentum indicators are failing to confirm the move. This signals that the rally could be nearing its final stages.

In his 1st May Weekly Market Comment, John Hussman showed a simple chart of the S&P 500, marking all days since 1960 where the opening level of the Index was 0.5% above the prior day's closing price and the Index was within 2% of an all-time high. On some occasions, these conditions occurred shortly before the final bull market high, while on others (August 1987 and October 2007), they occurred just a few days before or after the final market top. Food for thought.

Stock markets have enjoyed a very strong multi-year rally since 2009, and since bottoming versus gold in 2011. The S&P has handily outperformed precious metals over the last six years, following gold's strong relative performance versus US equities from 2000 until 2011. I believe the trend is now turning once again in favour of gold. I think gold will put in a meaningful low over the next 4-6 weeks (see Gold Market Update for more information), which I expect will coincide with a top in the stock market. After that, things should start to get interesting.

European stocks (lower left chart) trade at a valuation discount relative to US stocks and the market is pricing in quite a depressed level of earnings growth for EU companies. So, there is a margin of safety priced in to EU stock markets. Chinese stocks (lower right chart) continue to face significant headwinds and the chart of the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index suggests that the downward trend will persist for some time yet. I will be tilting the regional equity bias in the Active Asset Allocator towards Europe following the next meaningful correction, but for now, I continue to recommend caution and maintain a defensive position in the Active Asset Allocator of 20% equities / 40% bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

The trend remains down for government bond yields across the world. Inflationary pressures are probably greatest in the United States and eventually that will be reflected in the US Treasury market. However, as long as the US 10-year yield remains below 3.0%, I think the final low in yields of this multi-decade bull market lies somewhere in our future.

Debt, demographics and delusional central banks are combining to perpetuate this bull market in bonds. Despite the recent rise in yields, Eurozone government bond yields also remain in a multi-year downward trend. As long as 10-year German bund yields remain below 1.0%, the bond bull market remains intact.

It has been a quiet couple of months for inflation-linked bonds but the longer-term trend remains up for this under-owned asset class. Inflation-linked bonds offer attractive diversification benefits for multi-asset portfolios and perform well at times when equities and fixed interest rate bonds are struggling. I will likely increase the allocation to ILB's in the Active Asset Allocator over the course of the next 12 months.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

I closed Trade 12 of the Gold Trader strategy last week for a 2% gain (+4.4%YTD). I am looking to place another short position for Gold Trader to catch the top of gold's fourth daily cycle before the final descent into a medium-term low in June. Once next month's low is in place, I am expecting a powerful move higher over the Summer, coinciding with a top and decline in the stock market.

I am pretty excited about the prospects for Gold Trader. The strategy looks to capture 5-6% per trade while risking just 2-3% each time and has a win rate in excess of 70% based on over 10 years of data. Profits are tax-free to the client and fees are performance based. No gain, no fee. Please get in touch if you are interested in learning more.

I expect gold to bottom next month near $1,170. The possibility remains for a fast and sharp drop below the December 2016 low of $1,124 to shake out the bulls, which would provide the fuel for the next rally. Either way, once gold gets going, I expect a strong move higher towards $1,500. Gold Trader will be searching for a long position next month to get on board the move.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

March 28, 2017

March 2017 Investor Letter

March 28, 2017/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Gold Trader focuses on capturing the strongest and weakest parts of gold's daily cycle, buying daily cycle lows, selling daily cycle highs and holding for 10-15 trading days, depending on the cycle count. This approach allows me to effectively manage risk. The strategy aims to capture +5% to 6% profit per trade while risking 2% each time and has a win rate in excess of 70%.

Executive Summary

The strong rally in growth assets and sharp decline in interest rates have pulled forward future expected returns to such a degree that a passive portfolio of stocks and bonds is now priced to deliver little more than 2% per annum over the next decade, down from 9% per annum in 2009. Despite this prognosis, many are bullish on the outlook for stocks this year. The USD also looks vulnerable. The US Dollar Index peaked in 1985 and 16 years later in 2001. Prior declines in the USD Index have coincided with bear markets in stocks. 16 years later in 2017, are we about to see currency and equity cycles turn lower again?

Gold Trader closed Trade 11 for a win and is now looking to enter Trade 12, a short position to catch the top of daily cycle 3 and the drop into the next daily cycle low.

Stock Market Update

While historical returns on a traditional portfolio of 60% equities / 40% bonds are near all-time highs, forward-looking expected returns are near all-time lows. The strong rally in growth assets in recent years and sharp decline in interest rates have pulled forward future expected returns to such a degree that a passive portfolio of stocks and bonds is now priced to deliver little more than 2% per annum over the next decade, down from 9% per annum in 2009. Active asset allocation will become a key driver in delivering attractive returns for investors and the Active Asset Allocator is well positioned in this regard. Two asset classes which remain significantly under-owned that should outperform in a rising inflationary world are inflation-linked bonds and precious metals, discussed in more detail later in this report.

For now, the stock market continues its ascent, still untroubled by the many potential time-bombs ticking quietly away in the background. The Sell-signal triggered by my technical studies last October, shortly before the US election result, was negated in December, so the bullish trend continues for now. An ageing bull market, now the third longest in history, and record overvaluation in stocks however are holding me back from moving to a fully invested position at this time. The risks are just too high and I think the current rally is running on fumes. A couple more weeks of additional selling in the stock market will tip the scales once again back to full defensive mode.

John Hussman of Hussman Funds provides an excellent weekly analysis of trends in the stock market and captures the extent of the current overvaluation in equities better than anyone else. His chart (below left) measures the market value of equity plus book value of debt (enterprise value) of US companies relative to their gross value-added; a variation on the price/earnings multiple. His chart shows that valuations today are more expensive than in 2007 and within a hair's breath of their all-time extremes in 2000. The percentage of bullish newsletter writers from the latest Investors Intelligence Survey is also back near all-time highs.

Newsletter writers at optimistic extreme.

US corporate earnings have stopped falling in the short-term, perhaps on the back of expectations that Donald Trump will get his tax reform and infrastructure spending plans approved. However, US earnings are still at the same level as they were in 2007 when the S&P 500 was trading in the 1,500's, 33% below yesterday's closing price. At current prices, the stock market is all risk, no reward.

A bell doesn't ring at the top, but Trump's recent failure to get his healthcare reform legislation through the House of Representatives could mark an important tipping point. The Trump rally may have finally ended and if that proves to be the case, stock market volatility should start to accelerate. The Vix Index, a measure of volatility in the stock market, appears to confirm this view, bottoming at 9.97 on 1st February 2017 and has been creeping higher in recent weeks.

The performance of the US dollar has also caught my attention. US dollar bulls are ten-a-penny these days and the long dollar trade is quite lopsided. You have to buy US dollars before you can buy US equities and money has been piling into both markets in recent years. If we are close to the end of the bull run in equities, money will flow out of US stock markets and US dollars at the same time. While euro-based investors have enjoyed the double benefit of rallying US stock markets and a rising USD versus EUR, the trend in both looks set to change. The US Dollar Index peaked in 1985 and 16 years later in 2001. Prior declines in the USD Index have coincided with bear markets in stocks. 16 years later in 2017, are we about to see currency and equity cycles turn lower again?

For now, I continue to maintain a defensive position in the Active Asset Allocator of 20% equities / 40% bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

Inflation-linked bonds have quite attractive risk and return characteristics and often perform well at times when equities and fixed interest rate bonds are struggling; namely during periods when inflation is rising and/or economic growth is falling. Inflation-linked bonds can therefore provide attractive diversification benefits for multi-asset portfolios without impacting expected returns. Inflation-linked bonds tend to perform well when rising interest rates are driven by rising inflation expectations. They also represent quite an attractive alternative to fixed interest rate bonds in the current environment when nominal bond yields have already plunged to zero or below. While investors require nominal bond yields to fall deeper into negative territory to generate a positive return, inflation-linked bond returns, as the name suggests, are linked to the prevailing rates of inflation of countries issuing the bonds. If inflation happens to be higher than the nominal bond yield, then the real yield (nominal bond yield minus inflation) will simply be negative. Real yields can move to a negative extreme in a world of high inflation. The Active Asset Allocator currently holds a 15% allocation to inflation-linked bonds.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

According to the World Gold Council, overall demand for gold increased +2% in 2016 from 4,216 tonnes to 4,309 tonnes. ETF inflows accounted for the majority of the growth, offset by jewellery demand and a reduction in central bank purchases. Demand for physical bars and coins was relatively stable over the calendar year. Gold prices ended the year +8% in USD and +12% in EUR having been +25% in USD for the year to 30th September 2016. Investment demand increased +70% to its highest level since 2012, while annual ETF inflows were the highest since 2009.

Investment demand soared +70% in 2016. Global gold bar and coin demand was broadly stable. China increased demand by +25% while the demonetisation experiment in India led to a -17% reduction in the demand for gold.

Central banks bought 384 tonnes of gold in 2016, a third less than in 2015 and 32% below their average purchases of the past five years. Mounting pressure on central bank currency reserves was the culprit for the reduced demand. Russia, China and Kazakhstan were the main buyers in the market.

After a five year bear market, the gold bull looks like it has turned the corner. Gold has been in a declining trend relative to the S&P 500 since 2011. The double bottom over the last 12 months could signal the tide is turning in favour of gold relative to US stocks. The pattern is similar to that formed in 1999-2000, shortly before an epic bull run began.

The monthly gold chart looks bullish. Gold traded above the 20 month moving average for the majority of the bull run from $250 in 2001 to $1,923 in 2011. Today gold is trading at $1,255, above the 20MMA of $1,212. Gold still needs to navigate daily cycles 3 and 4 of the current investor cycle (we are currently mid-way through daily cycle 3) before the next big move higher. I expect the next investor cycle to kick off in May 2017 and if gold holds together until then, the move could be significant.

The silver chart looks more bullish than gold's. Silver broke above the 20MMA last year and has re-tested the trend line from above a couple of times since. Silver is leading the way and this is another positive for the precious metals market. The Active Asset Allocator currently holds a 20% allocation to the Central Fund of Canada (CEF), which currently holds a 61% allocation to gold bullion and 39% allocation to silver bullion. CEF trades at a -5% discount to the net asset value of the bullion held in the fund. This discount has narrowed from -8% at the start of the year.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

December 13, 2016

December 2016 Investor Letter

December 13, 2016/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Gold Trader and Gold PowerTrader focus on capturing the strongest and weakest parts of gold's daily cycles, buying daily cycle lows, selling daily cycle highs and holding for 10-15 trading days, depending on the cycle count. This approach allows me to effectively manage risk. The strategy aims to capture +5% to 6% profit per trade while risking 2% each time and has a win rate in excess of 70%.

Executive Summary

Stock markets are back in rally mode following the US and Italian election results. I believe this is the final "blow off" phase to a market top which could peak at any stage between now and March 2017. Stock market valuations have once again reached an extreme only experienced in 1929, 1972, 1987, 2000 and 2007. Donald Trump's election success has been compared to that of Ronald Reagan who won the race to the White House in November 1980. Following Reagan's win, the S&P 500 rallied +14% in just a few weeks but topped out in November 1980 and then tumbled -22% over the next year. That was when stocks were trading at single digit P/E multiples. Today, they are four times more expensive.

Government bond yields are rising, particularly in the US where Trump's policies will be viewed as potentially quite inflationary. US Treasuries have declined -8% since the US election result. Eurozone government bonds have held up better, falling just -4% during the recent Trump-inspired inflation scare (but -7% since August). Euro government bonds have now reached an oversold extreme and I expect a rally in EU government bond markets to get underway shortly, likely coinciding with a top in equity markets. While the Federal Reserve has backed away from its position as lender of last resort, the ECB continues to buy everything not nailed down and has recently extended its QE programme to December 2017.

Gold has also declined recently in tandem with other safe haven assets. Despite the recent correction however, gold priced in euros has still rallied +12% year-to-date. Based on my reading of the gold cycles, we are getting very close to the end of the current investor cycle for gold and I expect a turn higher shortly, possibly coinciding with an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve on December 14th. I remain defensively positioned for now with 20% equities / 40% bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

Stock Market Update

Trump's election victory has led to an +4% rally in the USD, an +8% rally in US stocks and an -8% drop in 30-year US Treasuries. 30-year Treasury yields jumped 50 basis points from 2.6% to 3.1% over the last four weeks. More broadly, global stock markets have added +5% in Euros, Eurozone government bonds have declined -4% and gold in euros has fallen -5%. What was initially considered bad news for investors ahead of the US election transformed into good news, literally overnight. The Active Asset Allocator lost -2.2% in November but has returned +8.4% year-to-date. In this Investor Update, I review the short-term impact of the Trump effect on equities, bonds, currencies and precious metals and examine what may be in store for investors in 2017.

Will a Trump presidency make America great again? He has promised tax cuts, infrastructure spending and regulatory reform, all of which could boost US GDP over the next two years, but at a significant cost of ballooning government debts and budget deficits. His protectionist policies on trade and immigration will negate the aforementioned positives to a certain degree. Of course this is all speculation for now as Trump and his team have yet to execute on their plan. Let's take a closer look at some of Trump's proposed policies and their likely potential impact.

The headline rate of corporation tax in the US is 35%. However, the average tax rate of the largest 50 companies in the S&P 500 is just 24%. So, stock markets may be overestimating the positive impact of Trump's tax reform plan. On infrastructure spending, Trump is planning to spend $100 billion/year on much-needed repairs to America's transportation network. Spending billions of dollars on America's rail infrastructure, roads, bridges and tunnels makes sense and should provide a timely boost to US GDP growth. However, the Trump team must execute. The Obama administration attempted a similar strategy in 2009 in the midst of the Great Financial Crisis. "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" was put in place at a cost of $800 billion to save and create jobs and invest in infrastructure, education, health, and renewable energy. The impact on job creation and GDP growth was considered relatively modest in the following years. Asset prices benefitted handsomely of course but this was largely a result of four rounds of quantitative easing rather than Obama's fiscal policy decisions.

Many are comparing Trump's recent victory to that of Ronald Reagan who won the race to the White House in November 1980. Reagan beat incumbent President Jimmy Carter on a platform of policies quite similar to those now being proposed by Donald Trump. Following Reagan's election victory, the S&P 500 took off (see chart below) rallying +14% in just a few weeks (compared to just +8% so far since Trump's win). However, that was it for the stock market rally back then. Stocks topped in November 1980 and then dropped -22% over the next 12 months. That was when stock market valuations were trading at single digit P/E multiples. Today, stocks are four times more expensive.

Back in 1980, the US national debt amounted to $908 billion and US GDP was $2.86 trillion (32% debt/GDP). Today, the US national debt is $19.6 trillion while US GDP is only $18.7 trillion (105% debt/GDP). It is going to be much more difficult for the Trump administration to grow the US economy by more than 2%/year during his time in Office. So far, the stock market has given Trump the benefit of the doubt, but I can't help but feel that 2017 is shaping up to be quite a different proposition, for reasons I will explain next.

The Dow Jones Industrials Average is a price-weighted index of 30 of America's largest publicly quoted companies including many household names like Disney, JP Morgan, Caterpillar, MacDonalds, Proctor & Gamble, Exxon Mobil and Goldman Sachs. Following the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, the Dow kicked off a new bull market, fueled to a large degree by central bank money printing on a scale never before witnessed. The rise over the next 9 years has been a sight to behold - a triple from those March 2009 lows. Times have changed however. QE has ended in the US, bond yields have rallied 100 basis points and the USD has added +10% versus the Euro since May 2016. US corporations are facing multiple headwinds at a time when corporate earnings are declining.

From a technical perspective, we are now at an interesting juncture. Take a look at the chart below. Multi-year support broke for the first time in 2015 but stocks recovered strongly for the remainder of the year. 2016 started with another sharp 15-20% correction before the bulls regained control once again. The DJIA has now rallied all the way back to the major multi-year support trend line and has broken out to new all time highs this week. Is this the start of a new multi-month rally or a bull trap? Chartists and traders around the world are watching this setup very closely. We should find out shortly.

A similar pattern is unfolding on a shorter time-frame in the S&P 500 - a break of support in October 2016 followed by a sharp rally that has just broken out to new all-time highs. In a world dominated by computer-driven algorithmic trading, these chart patterns matter.

When the S&P 500 is trading at a P/E multiple of 25 times earnings and those earnings peaked in 2015 and have been declining ever since, the chart patterns matter even more. The last time US corporate earnings were at current levels was almost 10 years ago, back in 2007 when the S&P 500 was trading at 1,500, -32% lower than today's level.

Margin debt, which measures the extent to which investors borrow to invest in the stock market, also looks like it may have peaked. Notice that margin debt as a percentage of GDP peaked at similar levels in 2000 and 2007 coincident with the previous two stock market bubbles.

The recent break higher in the stock market has looked convincing and has reversed the sell signal in my technical studies, which triggered in October. Portfolio managers under performance pressure are chasing this move in fear of underperforming benchmarks as we approach the end of the year. I believe the recent breakout will not be sustained and, similar to last year, we will get a sharp reversal at some point between now and March 2017. So I continue to recommend a defensive position in the Active Asset Allocator with an asset mix of 20% global equities / 40% EU bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

US Treasuries have been hit hardest during the recent correction in government bonds. The 10-year Treasury yield rallied 110 basis points from 1.4% in August to 2.5% today, sending Treasury prices falling over -10%. 30-year Treasury yields increased 1% from 2.1% to 3.1%, resulting in a capital decline of -15%. (the Active Asset Allocator strategy has no exposure to US Treasuries).

Eurozone government bonds held up better, falling just -4% during the recent Trump-inspired inflation scare (but -7% since August). Euro government bonds have now reached an oversold extreme and I expect a rally in EU government bond markets to get underway shortly, likely coinciding with a top in equity markets. While the Federal Reserve has backed away from its position as lender of last resort, the ECB continues to buy everything not nailed down and has recently extended its QE programme to December 2017.

Government debt in the Eurozone continues to grow at a faster rate than GDP. The ECB must hold interest rates below the rate of inflation so that these debts can be serviced and inflated away over time. While EU fixed interest rate bonds are approaching the end of their multi-decade bull market, the outlook for Inflation linked bonds (and gold) is brighter. Although fears of deflation continue to reverberate around the world, the echo is starting to fade. We are moving towards an environment of rising inflation. The Active Asset Allocator will continue to transition from fixed interest rate bonds to inflation-linked in 2017.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

Despite the recent correction, gold priced in euros has still rallied +12% year-to-date. Based on my reading of the gold cycles, we are now getting very close to the end of the current investor cycle for gold and I expect a turn higher shortly, possibly coinciding with an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve on December 14th.

The Federal Reserve last raised interest rates a year ago on December 16th 2015. Gold closed at $1,071 that day. In a shakeout move, gold dropped $20 the following day before then shooting higher by +30% over the next 6 months. I expect something similar this time round. Also, inflation wasn't a concern for the Fed last year but with Trump in the White House in January 2017, the narrative is changing.

Another difference between then and now is that USD gold looks to be making a higher low for the first time since 2011. A higher low is bull market action and will confirm a change of character for the gold market. If gold can form a low in the $1,100's, the next target will be a higher high in 2017 above $1,378. I think we will get it. A higher low followed by a higher high will get more involved in the precious metals market, a necessary development to drive gold prices higher.

Gold priced in euros has been holding up reasonably well since June 2016. Euro gold has not made a lower low despite the +7% rally in the USD over the same period.

The time has come for gold to show its hand. If the bull market is back, gold should rally sharply over the next 6 months. If gold disappoints, something else is at hand and I will cut back exposure in the Active Asset Allocator.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

October 28, 2016

October 2016 Investor Letter

October 28, 2016/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Gold Trader and Gold PowerTrader focus on capturing the strongest and weakest parts of gold's daily cycles, buying daily cycle lows, selling daily cycle highs and holding for 10-15 trading days, depending on the cycle count. This approach allows me to effectively manage risk. The strategy aims to capture +5% to 6% profit per trade while risking 2% each time and has a win rate in excess of 70%.

Executive Summary

My Technical Trend Indicator has triggered a Sell Signal for the first time since October 2014. This, at a time when equity valuations are stretched, US corporate earnings are declining and fund managers are fully committed, holding their lowest allocation to cash in over 20 years. The bull market is ageing and stock market leadership is narrowing. Investors also must contend with the fact that 86% of recessions in the United States have occurred either in the year of or the year following an election.

Government bond yields have backed up in recent weeks but I expect the trend lower to resume shortly, particularly if coupled with a bout of selling in equities. Meanwhile gold is consolidating ahead of another big move which I expect will start next month. Gold has returned +19% year-to-date for Euro investors. I expect strong double-digit annual returns for the precious metals over the next 3-5 years. Gold Trader closed out Trade 9 with a small profit this week and will look to enter another long position in 5-15 trading days at the end of the current daily cycle, which should also coincide with the intermediate cycle low (ICL). I remain defensively positioned for now with 20% equities / 40% bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

Stock Market Update

The current bull market in stocks, now the third longest in history, has run 7 years and 5 months, from March 2009 to August 2016 (2,193 on S&P 500). In second place is the bull market of the roaring twenties (1921-1929) which lasted 8 years and 2 months. It was followed by a spectacular -88% collapse in the Dow Jones Industrials Average and the Great Depression. The 9 year rally from 1991 to 2000, which culminated in the technology bubble and subsequent bust, with the S&P 500 falling -53% and NASDAQ plunging -83%, remains in top spot and will likely never be surpassed in either duration or valuation terms.

So, unless the current bull market is set to break records, it is probably in its final inning or may have already topped out. Stock market performance in US election years has tended to be positive (2000 and 2008 being notable exceptions). Post-election years however, have not been kind to investors. 9 of the last 14 recessions in the United States for example, have started in the year following an election, with 3 others beginning during an election year. Taken together, 86% of all recessions in the United States over the last century have started either in the year of or the year following an election. Adding fuel to the fire, my Technical Trend Indicator has just triggered a Sell Signal for the first time since October 2014.

This, at a time when equity valuations are stretched, US corporate earnings are declining and fund managers are fully committed, holding their lowest allocation to cash in over 20 years.

There is a growing complacency that Hillary Clinton will win the race to the White House on November 8th (Paddy Power has already paid out on a Clinton victory). Odds are against Trump, but if he causes an upset, expect a post-Brexit type reaction in equity, bond and currency markets. Irrespective of who wins the Presidential Race, 2017 should be quite a challenging year for investors. The Active Asset Allocator will look to navigate volatile markets and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. However, today I remain in defensive mode with an asset mix of 20% global equities / 40% EU bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

The US budget deficit increased by $150 billion from $440 billion to $590 billion in the year ending September 30th 2016. Over the same period, the total gross federal debt of the United States increased by $1.4 trillion. The trend is similar in Europe, the UK, Japan and China. Despite record government debt-to-GDP ratios across the developed world, calls for fiscal stimulus are growing to replace the increasingly ineffectual monetary policy madness that has become the norm in recent years. Fiscal stimulus means more debt, higher taxes and slower GDP growth. This should drive interest rates and government bond yields lower, not higher in the months ahead. So, while bond yields have moved higher in recent weeks, particularly in the US and UK, following a near vertical plunge in 2016, I expect the trend lower in bond yields to resume shortly. I don't think the bond bull is dead yet.

In the Eurozone, the ECB is running out of government bonds to buy and will likely relax its minimum purchase requirements next month. There is still plenty of demand for EU bonds, which should keep a lid on EU government bond yields for the foreseeable future. The Active Asset Allocator currently holds a 20% allocation in fixed interest government bonds along with 15% in inflation linked bonds and 5% in EU aggregate bonds. The 20% allocation is the most sensitive to interest rates changes and one I am most focused on near-term. I expect government bonds to rally on the next stock market decline.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

Gold looks like it still has some work to do before making its next big move higher. Gold Trader avoided the $70 drop in gold earlier this month and entered a long position at $1,260 with the expectation of capturing the start of a new medium-term investor cycle. The rally never really got going, so Trade 9 was closed this week at $1,267, booking a small profit. Gold Trader will look to enter another long position in 5-15 trading days at the end of the current daily cycle, which should also coincide with the intermediate cycle low (ICL). Gold should finish the year with a strong move higher and deliver another solid performance in 2017 as the bull market reignites.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

September 21, 2016

September 2016 Investor Letter

September 21, 2016/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Executive Summary

Central banks continue to dominate the headlines. The Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan both announced no change in interest rates today but threatened more QE if and when required. The Bank of Japan also announced a new monetary policy framework called "Quantitative and Qualitative Monetary Easing with Yield Curve Control", basically translated as "when in doubt, print more money". On equities, while there are plenty of reasons to be bearish, my Technical Trend Indicator (TTI) remains on a 'BUY'. The trend has started to fade, however, so buyers will need to step up shortly or we will be back to defensive mode for the first time since October 2014.

Turning to the bond markets, this month I note an interesting and potentially concerning development where a divergence is appearing in the technical indicators. The end of the multi-decade bull market in bonds may not be too far away now. I am paying close attention. The outlook for inflation linked bonds is certainly more favourable. Finally on gold this month I highlight the top physically backed gold ETF's on the market and note recent flows into the various funds on a regional basis. I remain defensively positioned for now with 20% equities / 40% bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

Stock Market Update

Stock markets are in a holding pattern ahead of the Federal Reserve's FOMC press conference this evening (Wednesday 21st September) at 19.30 Irish time. Markets are pricing in a 20% probability of a 0.25% interest rate hike. Janet Yellen does not like surprises so I expect lots of talk about what-if's and maybes but little action from the Fed President. The Bank of Japan also met last night (Tuesday 20th September) and agreed a new framework for strengthening monetary easing called "Quantitative and Qualitative Monetary Easing with Yield Curve Control", basically translated as "when in doubt, print more money". The Japanese central bank is now accumulating 3% of the Japanese equity market on an annual basis with money created out of thin air. The Swiss central bank is pursuing a similar strategy and now holds $120 billion in publicly traded stocks, including $1.4 billion in Apple shares, $1.2 billion in Google and $1.0 billion in Microsoft. When confidence in central bank policy is finally lost, there will be hell to pay but that is a conversation for another day.

In the meantime, despite the growing central bank footprint on global equity markets and the perception that the Fed, ECB, BoE and BoJ are still in control, volatility is on the rise. I expect this trend to continue as we move towards the US Presidential election on 8th November and into 2017. The market reaction to the news in the weeks ahead will determine what changes, if any, are made to the Active Asset Allocator.

The buy signal generated by my Technical Trend Indicator (TTI) in April 2016 is still in place today, albeit the trend has started to fade. Buyers of stocks will need to step up soon or the TTI will flip back to a 'Sell' for the first time since October 2014. A week or two of additional selling will tip the scales back to defensive mode. So, a potentially important inflection point for the stock market is now at hand.

Perhaps markets have started to discount a deteriorating growth outlook for the US economy. The recent ISM Purchasing Managers Index dropped below 50 in August, signalling a contracting manufacturing sector in the US. The ISM Services Sector, which represents two thirds of the US economy, also experienced a sharp decline in August to reach its lowest level since 2010.

........Or perhaps stock market investors are balking at paying a record multiple of earnings for shares of US companies. The S&P 500 today trades at 27 times the average of the last 10 years' reported earnings, adjusted for inflation, a peak only surpassed in 1929 and 2000. The average 'Shiller P/E' over the last 135 years is closer to 17 times reported earnings, and that is just the average. Often times, the P/E multiple has dropped to 10 times earnings, or below.

.......This is at a time when corporate earnings in the United States are actually in decline. S&P 500 GAAP earnings peaked in 2015 and have been falling over the last five quarters. Last time US corporate earnings were at today's levels was in 2007 when the S&P 500 was trading at 1,500, approximately 30% below today's price.

So, the majority of evidence suggests that equities are overpriced today and due a correction at a minimum. However, continued interference by central banks has clouded the picture, which is why I place such a strong emphasis on my understanding of the primary trend of the market. My Technical Trend Indicator has proven to be an excellent navigational tool for would-be investors. Theoretically, there is no limit to the amount of money central banks can print and invest in the stock market. In theory, this could lead to substantially higher prices for stocks at some point in the future, as valuation concerns are trumped by a wall of liquidity flowing into markets from central banks. I do not believe for one second that this outcome is likely, but I can't rule it out for certain. So the TTI leads the way.

I came across a recent study from the folks at Evergreen GaveKal that touched on the issue of central bank intervention and the potential unintended consequences that may arise. The good people at Evergreen GaveKal highlighted the potential impact of negative interest rates on stock market valuations as follows.

“A negative yield on the U.S. 10-year treasury note will be a much bigger problem for managers to worry about than a Shiller P/E of 27 on the S&P 500 Index..... The effect of persistently negative rates on equities’ valuations is almost incomprehensible: with a negative discount rate, any cash flow producing equity is theoretically worth infinity. The chart below shows the net present value of 2,000-year stream of $5 dividends at different discount rates. At a negative discount rate of -3%, this $5 dividend stock would be worth 47,684 trillion trillions. Welcome to the new crazy!”

— Evergreen Gavekal

Now there is something to ponder! For now though, the Active Asset Allocator remains defensively positioned with 20% global equities / 25% fixed interest rate bonds / 15% inflation linked bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

An interesting dynamic is unfolding across government bond markets in 2016. While government bond prices continue to make new highs, a divergence is appearing in the technical indicators. The Relative Strength Index and Momentum Index specifically are making lower highs and not confirming the bullish trend. Is this a temporary pause before another surge higher in bond prices and lower in yields or is the bond market signalling that the multi-decade trend of lower rates is finally coming to an end?

US 10-year and 30-year government bond yields are exhibiting similar characteristics to Eurozone government bonds. Bond yields are still making lower lows but selling pressure has eased and relative strength is improving. If bond yields continue to rise over the rest of 2016 and into 2017, the longer-term trend will turn from down to up, which will be meaningful. Is the market be signalling that the central banks are starting to lose control?

The Active Asset Allocator currently holds a 20% allocation in fixed interest government bonds along with 15% in inflation linked bonds and 5% in EU aggregate bonds. The 20% allocation is the most sensitive to interest rates changes and one I am most focused on near-term. I expect government bonds to rally on the next stock market decline. If they do not, I will sell the 20% allocation to fixed interest government bonds and book profits on that trade.

Unlike fixed interest government bonds, inflation linked bonds (ILB's) can rally in a rising interest rate environment, so long as inflation expectations increase at a faster rate than central bankers increase interest rates and government bond yields rise. Central banks want inflation and they will get it. The Active Asset Allocator is poised to benefit and the allocation to ILB's will increase in the months ahead.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

According to The World Gold Council latest report, the total amount of gold held in the world's top 73 gold ETF's reached 2,297 tonnes at 31 August 2016, up 27 tonnes from the previous month. European gold fund ETF's added 33 tonnes, offsetting the 8 tonne decline in North America. Slow and persistent accumulation is characteristic of a bull market.

The top 15 physically-backed gold gold ETF's by assets in tonnes are summarised in the following table. The Sprott Physical Gold Trust and Central Fund of Canada, 9 and 10 on the list, are the ETF's used in the Active Asset Allocator to provide our precious metals exposure.

The precious metals bull market rumbles on. Gold priced in euros has outperformed gold priced in US dollars since 2015 due to relative currency moves over the period. Gold will rise in all currencies over time. I expect gold to break out to new all time highs in the next 1-2 years. Bull market QED.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

August 16, 2016

August 2016 Investor Letter

August 16, 2016/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Executive Summary

Despite expensive valuations, stock markets remain well bid and my technical trend indicator remains on a 'BUY'. In the short-term, equities are overbought and due for a pause or correction. If the bullish technical setup persists as we navigate past the seasonally difficult August to October period, I will add equity exposure to the Active Asset Allocator. For now, I remain patiently in defensive mode. I also am planning to tilt the regional equity exposure away from the US towards Europe, where stock market valuations are more compelling. Stay tuned.

This month, I added 5% to UK index linked gilts and 5% to US inflation linked bonds in the Active Asset Allocator, lowering the cash position from 20% to 10%. The bond market is pricing in almost no inflation in our future and I believe that is a mistake. The Active Asset Allocator continues to hold a 20% allocation to fixed interest rate bonds but the clock is ticking on this trade and I have one eye on the exit door. On precious metals, the World Gold Council published its Q2 2016 update on Gold Demand Trends and noted a +141% year/year increase in investment demand. it's a bull market folks. I also closed out Trade 7 for Gold Trader on Friday at breakeven. I remain defensively positioned for now with 20% equities / 40% bonds / 30% precious metals / 10% cash.

Stock Market Update

My technical studies triggered a buy signal for the stock market on 15th April 2016 and it remains in place today. Since this trigger, global stock markets have rallied +4% in aggregate. US equities have gained +4%, European stocks are unchanged while emerging market equities have added +8%. (EU bonds and gold have also rallied over the same period with bonds +4% and gold +9%). I have been reluctant to follow the buy signal for equities to date, largely due to valuation concerns. Today, the S&P 500 trades at 25 times reported earnings. The S&P 500 has traded at a valuation above 24 times reported earnings only 9% of the time since 1928. If we exclude the tech bubble and 2008 financial crisis, when corporate earnings all but disappeared, that number drops to just 2%! We are also entering the historically difficult August to October period where stock markets have suffered significant declines in the past.

However, despite expensive valuations, the market's technical picture has recently improved. The number of stocks making new lows has evaporated while the number of stocks breaking out to new highs continues to increase (lower left chart). This is a prerequisite for another leg higher to develop in what is a maturing equity bull market. Central banks around the world continue to add fuel to the fire with the Bank of Japan, ECB, Swiss National Bank and People's Bank of China being particularly active in 2016 YTD (lower right chart).

The next chart is quite revealing and one to which I am paying close attention. It shows the performance of consumer cyclical versus consumer staple stocks. Consumer cyclical stocks rely heavily on the business cycle and include industries such as retail, automotive, housing and entertainment. Consumer staples tend to perform better during recessionary periods and include non-cyclical industries such as food, telecom, utilities and healthcare. So when the trend is rising, Cyclicals are outperforming Staples, and stock markets tend to do quite well. When the trend reverses and Staples outperform Cyclicals, markets tend to struggle. The chart took a sharp decline in late 2015 signalling that all was not well for stock markets and true to form, they have struggled so far in 2016. However, Consumer Cyclicals have started to show some relative strength in recent months and may be about to break out above the down-trending 50WMA. This would be quite a bullish development and allow me to become more constructive on the outlook for equities.

In another positive development, a significant 78% of stocks on the NYSE are now trading above their long-term 200DMA, signifying broad participation in this recent stock market rally.

In the short-term, equities are overbought and due for a pause or correction. If stock markets can hold firm over the next couple of months and my technical studies remain favourable, I will increase the equity allocation in the Active Asset Allocator. I also am planning to tilt the regional equity exposure away from the US towards Europe, where stock market valuations are more compelling. Stay tuned.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

This month, I added a 5% allocation to UK index linked gilts and a 5% allocation to US inflation linked bonds, lowering the cash position in the Active Asset Allocator from 20% to 10% to fund the purchases. The bond market is pricing in almost no inflation in our future and I believe that is a mistake. Printing money always leads to inflation, eventually. We have experienced 7 years of asset price inflation (rising equity and property prices) and are starting to see increasing signs of wage inflation this year. In the United States, while inflation linked bonds continue to underperform Treasuries, technical signs of a change in trend are at hand. Relative strength (RSI) and momentum (MACD) indicators are improving in favour of inflation-linked bonds and price should follow suit later this year.

Inflation linked bonds are also rallying in the United Kingdom and the recent 15% drop in GBP should accelerate this trend. Falling unemployment, wage inflation and continued loose monetary policy by the Bank of England should provide an additional tailwind.

Central banks have already driven government bond yields to zero or below and are now examining alternative ways to distribute a continuing flow of newly printed money. Accelerated fiscal spending and/or direct payouts to the public (helicopter money) are potentially on the cards. Trends in wage inflation have also started to rise in the US recently. I expect the bond market to start pricing in a more inflationary outlook and inflation linked bonds should be a beneficiary.

The 35+year bull market in fixed interest rate (rather than inflation-linked) bonds is in its final innings. We could be entering the final blow-off phase, which, when it ends, will unleash pain and chaos across multiple asset markets, but we are not there yet. Rising bond yields, when they do come, will lead to significantly lower prices for long duration fixed interest bonds and equities alike. (Stocks are simply a claim on a future stream of cash flows, discounted at the prevailing market rate. When that interest rate goes up, the present value of a stream of cash flows declines. it is simple mathematics). The Active Asset Allocator continues to hold a 20% allocation in fixed interest rate bonds but the clock is ticking on this trade and I have one eye on the exit door.

To learn more about the full range of investment services available at Secure Investments, please contact Brian by email at brian.delaney@secureinvest.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

The World Gold Council has published its quarterly report on gold demand trends for Q2 2016 with some interesting highlights. The report details a 15% increase in overall gold demand year/year driven by a +141% increase in investment demand. The main buyers continue to come from India and China, though US investor demand is also on the rise. Gold supply increased +10% with total mine supply +5% year/year.

The increasing appetite for gold is evident in the next chart where you can see that gold is rising at a faster rate than either of the prior two times when gold broke out above its long-term 20-month MA. Investors want in and are increasingly happy to pay higher prices to get their bullion.

Gold outperformed stocks from 2000 to 2011 before entering a bear market that ended last year. Gold has started to outperform the S&P 500 once again this year, a trend that I expect will remain in force for at least the next 2-3 years and perhaps quite a bit longer.

The gold miners are leveraged plays on the price of gold. The index of gold and silver miners has already rallied +192% since the low made on 19th January 2016. The miners are a notoriously volatile sector of the market but for those with patience and an iron stomach, fortunes will be made in this sector before the bull market ends.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

May 31, 2016

May 2016 Investor Letter

May 31, 2016/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Executive Summary

The Active Asset Allocator has returned +6.3% YTD versus +0.0% for the average multi-asset fund. My Technical Trend Indicator has triggered a buy signal, yet stocks have not made much progress since. I remain defensively positioned for now with 20% equities / 30% bonds / 30% precious metals / 20% cash. Over 40% of equities on the NYSE have already declined -20% or more, classic early bear market behaviour, though the large-cap indices appear unconcerned for now. This standoff should resolve itself shortly.

Meanwhile, bonds continue to rally while yields head towards zero or lower. This month I explain why I think we are finally approaching an inflection point in fixed income and the potential end to the 35+ year bull market in bonds. Calls for helicopter money are getting louder and investor confidence in central bank policy is about to be tested. I also discuss the World Gold Council's latest report on trends in the sector including a +122% increase in investment demand for gold year/year.

Stock Market Update

In 2016 year-to-date, global equities have returned -0.3%, EU government bonds +5.2%, EU corporate bonds +2.7%, gold +11.3% and silver +14.4% in euro terms. Over that period, the Active Asset Allocator has delivered a positive return of +6.3%, with just 20% invested in equities and 20% still held in cash, versus 0.0% for the average multi-asset fund. Last month, I noted that my technical studies triggered a buy signal for the stock market for the first time since September 2013 and that buy signal remains in place today. Price hasn't made much progress since the buy signal triggered and I continue to maintain a defensive position for now in the Active Asset Allocator.

Today, over 40% of stocks trading on the NYSE are already down 20% or more (56% of small caps, 30% of mid-caps and 16% of large-caps) - classic early bear market behaviour. This fact has been disguised by the continued strong performance of a handful of names in the market-cap weighted S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials, which are driving those indices back towards their old 52-week highs. Volume has also been lacklustre on the recent rally in stocks. While the S&P 500 is not too far off breaking out to new highs, volume does not look like it will confirm the move higher.

Last month, I highlighted the prior instances in 2000 and 2007 when the S&P 500 peaked and turned lower, followed shortly thereafter by a bearish cross of the 50WMA below the 100WMA. This coincided with the onset of a bear market in equities and a declining trend in US corporate earnings. At the time of writing my April Investor Letter, the 50WMA had not crossed below the 100WMA. That has changed with the bearish cross now in effect, though price is still holding above both long-term moving averages. A sustained break below 2,024 on the S&P 500 in the weeks ahead will increase the odds that a bear market in stocks has arrived. Conversely, if the stock market can consolidate recent gains despite the bearish cross, it should clear the way for higher prices later this year and I will adjust the Active Asset Allocator accordingly. For now, I remain patient.

Volatility is on the rise and there is no shortage of events this year that could drive equity volatility significantly higher including the Brexit vote next month, a potential hard landing in China, political and economic chaos in Brazil and Venezuela and of course the possibility of Donald Trump in the White House. The Vix Index below captures the trend in volatility of the stock market and this trend is on the rise. The multi-year basing pattern is similar to that experienced in the lead up to the last bear market in stocks and reinforces my belief that the stock market is in the process of topping.

It will be interesting to gauge the reaction of the Federal Reserve, ECB, Bank of England and Bank of Japan if a bear market in stocks gets going later this year. I believe they will panic and react by doing things that will appear increasingly crazy to many people, like helicopter money or some version of fiscal or monetary stimulation. I believe this will precipitate a crisis of confidence in paper currency, which is why the Active Asset Allocator continues to hold a 30% allocation to precious metals.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

From 1952 to 2000, it took $1.70 of non-financial borrowing to generate a dollar of GDP growth. By 2015, that number had more than doubled to $3.46. At the margin, an additional dollar of borrowing is losing its impact. Total debt to GDP across much of the developed world has now reached mind-boggling levels: 370% in the United States, 615% in Japan, 350% in China and 457% in the Eurozone. Meanwhile, GDP growth is decelerating.

Central banks, in their capacity as lenders of last resort (and buyers of last resort of government bonds), have supported the explosion higher in debt in recent years and central bank policy will be responsible for the eventual debt bust. It is just a question of timing. I believe we are approaching an inflection point, potentially in the next 12 months, where markets will call central bankers' collective bluff... and then central bankers will panic.

What could be the catalyst? Perhaps wide scale debt forgiveness by the Japanese Central Bank, the largest owner of Japanese government debt or the Federal Reserve swapping Treasuries for 100 or 200 year bonds paying a 0.05% or 0.10% coupon or perhaps the introduction of helicopter money by one or more central banks.

In fact, calls for 'helicopter money' are already on the rise today. Former Fed Chair, Ben Bernanke and more recently Bill Gross, fixed income manager at Janus Capital, have both touted helicopter money as a legitimate monetary policy tool still available to central banks in times of crisis. A search for "helicopter money" on Google Trends also confirms a growing interest from the public in this most unorthodox form of central bank intervention.

Experiments with helicopter money do not end well. The risks are high and consequences severe if badly managed. James Grant of Grant's Interest Rate Observer sums it up best:

“Does the deployment of helicopter money not entail some meaningful risk of the loss of confidence in a currency that is, after all, undefined, uncollateralized and infinitely replicable at exactly zero cost? Might trust be shattered by the visible act of infusing the government with invisible monetary pixels and by the subsequent exchange of those images for real goods and services? ......To us, it is the great question. Pondering it, as we say, we are bearish on the money of overextended governments. We are bullish on the alternatives enumerated in the Periodic table. It would be nice to know when the rest of the world will come around to the gold-friendly view that central bankers have lost their marbles. We have no such timetable. The road to confetti is long and winding.”

— James Grant, Grant's Interest Rate Observer

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

So long as gold and silver hold above their respective long-term 20 month moving averages, it is safe to assume the bull market in precious metals has returned. The key numbers today are $1,173 for gold and $15.60 for silver. YTD, gold is +11% and silver is +14% for euro investors.

I expect a declining US dollar will provide a nice tailwind for the next leg higher in the precious metals bull market. The US Dollar Index looks to have formed a multi-year top. The last time this occurred was in 2002 and coincided with the start of the gold bull market. I expect an equally powerful move higher in gold and lower in USD once the trends are set in motion.

The World Gold Council has published its first quarter 2016 report on demand trends in the industry and highlights some interesting developments in the sector this quarter. Overall, gold demand grew +21% in Q1 2016 to 1,290 tonnes, the strongest first quarter advance on record. While jewelry demand declined -19% due in large part to the recent surge in gold prices, investment demand more than doubled surging +122% year/year.

Inflows into precious metals ETF's accounted for 364 tonnes, the highest since Q1 2009. Also, of note, central banks continue to accumulate gold and added 109 tonnes during the most recent quarter. They are less vocal about their gold accumulation policy but are consistently one of the largest acquirers of gold each quarter.

The United States remains the top holder of gold bullion based on the World Gold Council's latest reported data with in excess of 8,000 tonnes, followed by Germany, the IMF, Italy and France. China reported 1,798 tonnes of gold reserves at 31st March 2016.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

April 25, 2016

April 2016 Investor Letter

April 25, 2016/ Brian Delaney

Strategy Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for clients. This strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Executive Summary

Following the worst start to the year for equities in recorded history, we have just experienced one of the sharpest recoveries off the lows since records began. This rally has been so strong in fact that my technical studies have just triggered a buy signal for the stock market for the first time since September 2013. This month, I review the recent improvement in the stock market's technical setup and outline my plan of attack for the weeks ahead. For now, the Active Asset Allocator remains defensively positioned, 20% equities / 30% bonds / 30% PM's / 20% cash.

This month I also explain why I remain bullish on bonds and expect an additional 15-20% upside for the 10 year duration bond ETF I hold in the Active Asset Allocator and provide a brief update on the ongoing bullish developments in the precious metals sector as this bull market shifts into gear.

Stock Market Update

My technical studies have just triggered a buy signal for the stock market for the first time since September 2013. Equity valuations today are approaching an extreme only witnessed near prior stock market peaks and US corporate earnings are now in a declining trend. Despite these cautionary flags, continuous central bank intervention has created the perception that stock market investing is a low risk endeavor and a buy-the-dip mentality on every correction has taken hold. This will not end well. In the interim, price trumps opinion. My Technical Trend Indicator (TTI) is smarter than I am and keeps me on the right side of the prevailing stock market trend. In this monthly update, I consider my plan of attack for the weeks ahead.

“Based on valuation measures having the strongest correlation with actual subsequent market returns across history, equity valuations have approached present levels in only a handful of instances: 1901 (followed by a -46% market retreat over the following 3-year period), 1906 (followed by a -45% retreat over the following year), 1929 (followed by a -89% collapse over the following 3 years), 1937 (followed by a -48% loss over the following year), 2000 (followed by a -49% market loss over the following 2 years), and 2007 (followed by a -57% market loss over the following 2 years). A few lesser extremes occurred in the 1960’s and 1970’s, followed by market losses in the -35% to -48% range.”

— John Hussman, Hussman Funds, 18th April 2016.

In this long-term chart of the S&P 500, I have highlighted the prior instances in 2000 and 2007 when the stock market topped and rolled over, followed shortly thereafter by a bearish cross of the 50WMA below the 100WMA. This coincided with the onset of a bear market in equities and a declining trend in US corporate earnings. In 2016 YTD, we have already experienced a sharp -14% drop in stocks followed by an equally sharp +16% rally. However, there has been no bearish cross yet of the 50WMA below the 100WMA and the S&P 500 currently trades above both trend lines. Meanwhile, US corporate earnings have begun to slide, highlighted in the lower section of the chart below. This should be expected and is consistent with the maturing phase of an ageing equity bull market, which is now over seven years old.

Margin debt, a measure of the degree of speculation evident in the stock market, also appears to have peaked and rolled over. Prior peaks in margin debt have coincided with past peaks in the stock market. So today, we have a combination of stocks that are trading at expensive valuations, a weakening trend in US corporate earnings and a declining trend in margin debt. That's the bad news.

Despite this backdrop, equities have powered ahead in recent weeks. In February 2016, only 15% of stocks on the NYSE were trading above their 200DMA. Today, this figure has jumped to a much healthier 69%. If stock markets can consolidate their recent gains over the next couple of weeks while a majority of stocks continue to trade above the 200DMA, the bulls will remain in control.

In another positive development, the NYSE Advance/Decline Line (lower left chart), which captures the trend of rising stocks versus declining stocks over time, has recently broken out to new all time highs. This suggests that price should follow suit shortly. Volume flowing into advancing versus declining stocks is lagging however and has yet to break out (lower right chart) to new highs. So, we still have some mixed signals here (click on charts to enlarge).

As markets have rallied, stocks making new lows have also all but disappeared, which is another requirement before a bull market can resume.

So from a technical perspective, the outlook for equities has improved, but there are still many reasons for caution. Remember, 2016 started with the worst negative stock market performance in history, so it's only natural that the first rally following this correction should be powerful. The markets are overbought in the short-term and a correction of some degree should now be expected. The extent of the correction will determine when and by how much I will increase the equity allocation in the Active Asset Allocator. Stay tuned, we should find out soon enough.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or at 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

The ECB is attempting to stimulate economic growth and generate inflation in the order of 2% annually by printing money, buying bonds, funding some EU country deficits and potentially using some form of "helicopter money" for EU citizens. The road ahead is concerning but we have not yet reached an inflection point where ECB policies trigger an acceleration in the rate of inflation and a path towards higher government bond yields. Draghi has committed to doing "whatever it takes" which means he is willing to drive 10-year EU government bond yields into negative territory.

The Active Asset Allocator currently holds a 20% allocation in EU government bonds (IEGZ). The regional split of this bond fund is 32% France, 27% Italy, 19% Germany, 17% Spain, 5% Netherlands. The fund has a yield of 1.4% and a duration of 10 years. If ECB policies are successful, the yield on IEGZ should reach zero or negative implying 15-20% upside return potential from here. I plan to increase the allocation to inflation linked bonds (IBCI) and reduce the allocation to fixed interest rate bonds (IEGZ) later in 2016. Of course, the overall allocation to bonds will reduce if/when I increase the allocation to equities in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

Gold closed above the 20-month moving average (20MMA) in February 2016, confirming a new bull market had begun. As long as gold continues to trade above the 20MMA, bull market rules will apply - we buy and hold and do not get shaken out of our position. The 20MMA closed on Friday at $1,170 and should start trending higher shortly.

Silver's bull market kicked off a month later, as this more volatile precious metal closed above its 20MMA in March 2016. Silver's 20MMA closed on Friday at $15.60, so above this price, bull market rules should also apply.

The one fly in the ointment for both precious metals (silver in particular) is the extent of the speculative long position that has been accumulated by hedge funds and those betting on higher prices for the precious metals. The latest Commitment of Traders report shows an all time record net long position by speculators in the silver market.

Commercial traders (the mining companies and bullion banks) take the opposite side to the speculators and are always net short the metals to varying degrees, depending on price, to hedge their production. The Commercials are often referred to as the "smart money" as they are able to manage the gold and silver price in the short-term, knocking down the price and covering their short trades when the speculators get overly stretched on the long side. We are potentially at this point now, particularly in the silver market. The Commercials do not always win and have been forced to cover at much higher prices in the past. As always, I will be guided by the price action as it unfolds. Above the 20MMA, it's a bull market.

I expect the precious metals bull market to benefit from an overall declining trend in the US dollar over the next 3-5 years. The USD has been perceived as a safe haven currency since the 2008 financial crisis and has benefited handsomely from significant inflows into various US growth assets, driving price and valuation to extreme levels. As valuations normalize, I expect the USD to decline on a trade weighted basis.

Confirming the bull market in precious metals, the gold and silver miners are rocketing higher. The gold and silver mining index is already +111% from their recent lows. The miners are notoriously volatile. However, for those willing to close their eyes and hold on, I expect BIG rewards here. The miners are too volatile for the Active Asset Allocator but are confirming my bullish view on the sector.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

March 22, 2016

March 2016 Investor Letter

March 22, 2016/ Brian Delaney

Active Asset Allocator Performance

Investment Philosophy and Approach

The Active Asset Allocator investment strategy is designed to deliver a consistent level of positive returns over time with a strong focus on capital preservation. I follow a multi-asset investment approach, actively allocating between global equities, bonds, precious metals, currencies and cash. I always invest with the primary trend of the market and do not follow a benchmark. Instead, I manage the market risk for my clients. My strategy has returned +11% per annum net of fees since inception with a lower level of risk than the average multi-asset fund. My active asset allocation approach is best illustrated in the following chart.

Executive Summary

Equity bull market or bear? The moment of truth has arrived. Following a -21% decline from the May 2015 top to the January 2016 low, stocks have staged a rally back to the now down-sloping 50-week moving average (50WMA). What was once support is now resistance. This month, I examine price action, volume and volatility trends to examine whether stocks have the required strength to break out to new highs or whether new lows are around the corner.

Bonds are off to another good start in 2016, despite 30% of all global government bonds now sporting a negative yield. I examine the bullish case and highlight my key concerns for fixed income investors. I also provide an update on the unfolding bull market in precious metals. The Active Asset Allocator remains defensively positioned with euros, bonds and precious metals accounting for 80% of the asset mix.

Finally, a note on 29 Trades, a new investment strategy at Secure Investments. I have been following the short-term (daily) and medium-term (investor) cycles of the gold market for over 10 years and have identified specific patterns, a rhythm, to the market that repeats with regularity as the daily and investor cycles ebb and flow. 29 Trades has emerged from many hours of analysis and has the potential to deliver exceptional returns over time for investors in a risk controlled way. Please get in touch for more information.

Stock Market Update

The moment of truth has arrived for the stock market. Either the top is in and this bear-market rally is about to roll over, or the past 10 months have been nothing more than a sharp correction in an ongoing bull market. We should find out soon enough. The Active Asset Allocator remains defensively positioned for now with an asset mix of 20% equities, 30% bonds, 30% gold, 20% cash.

We began 2016 with a waterfall decline in the stock market, the worst start to the year in recorded history. At the January 2016 low, stocks had declined -21% from their May 2015 peak. The market then experienced a powerful and impressive rally over the last 4 weeks, back to the now down-sloping 50-week moving average (50WMA). The FTSE All World Index, the global stock market barometer, closed the week just 6 points below the 50WMA.

In the United States, the Nasdaq Composite, Russell 2000 Small Cap Index and Value Line Geometric Index continue to trade below their long-term MA's. However, in a bullish development this month, the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrials, Transports and Utilities Indices have all recaptured the 50WMA.

On another positive note, new highs on the NYSE are now outpacing new lows for the first time in almost a year (lower left chart) while 51% of NYSE stocks are now trading above the 200DMA compared with just 16% at the beginning of 2016 (lower right chart). Both are requirements for a sustained stock market rally to take hold. It is too early to tell whether the recent buying power has been driven by aggressive short-covering or large institutional players taking new positions. The stock market should reveal its hand shortly.

Volume flowing into advancing stocks relative to declining stocks has picked up in March but not yet to a significant degree. The recent turn is notable. If this trend in rising volume persists and follows price to new highs in the months ahead, the bulls will have regained control and I will move to a fully invested position in the Active Asset Allocator. Stay tuned.

Volatility is also rising and tracing out a pattern of higher highs and higher lows. The VIX Index surged to 32 in January 2016, a new high for the move, before declining back to 14 this month, a higher low. The pattern of higher highs and higher lows is signalling a increase in investor concern and demand for portfolio insurance. If volatility picks up in the next few weeks, it should coincide with lower stock prices. Conversely, a break to new lows for the VIX will signal the all clear for stock markets as we head into the summer months.

For more information on my stock market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

Bond Market Update

Over 60% of global government bonds today yield less than 1% and almost 30% of global government bonds now have negative yields. While difficult to comprehend, it makes some sense given that global economic growth expectations are deteriorating, inflation is benign, and central banks have cut short-term rates to zero or below.

In January 2016, the Japanese central bank announced an interest rate cut to -0.1%. In March, the ECB followed suit with a rate cut to -0.4%. A couple of weeks later, the Federal Reserve lowered market expectations for further interest rate increases this year due to a weaker global growth outlook and volatile market conditions.

As long as central banks continue to drive short-term rates lower and use newly printed money to buy government bonds, the bull market in bonds should continue. A period of stock market volatility should also provide an additional source of demand. I see two key risks for fixed income investors: (i) a policy change by key central banks to step back from quantitative easing, and (ii) an unanticipated rise in inflation. I rate the probability of a central bank policy reversal as near zero. An inflation scare is a potentially higher probability event given the trillions of dollars of newly printed money that has been pumped into the system and the law of unintended consequences. I am watching closely for signs. In fact, inflation-linked bonds have started to rally in the US, UK and EU, coincident with the recent bottom in commodity markets. If this trend persists, I will increase the allocation to inflation-linked bonds in the Active Asset Allocator from 5% to 10% and reduce the allocation to fixed interest rate bonds from 20% to 15%.

For more information on my bond market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.

Gold Market Update

Last month, I noted that gold crossed bullishly above its long-term 20 month moving average for the first time since topping out at $1,923 in 2011. Gold has continued to trade above the 20MMA and is about to be joined by silver this month. Silver holds both precious metal and industrial properties. Silver is considerably more volatile than gold, but also offers more upside and a good degree of inflation protection in a world gone mad with central bankers threatening money printing ad infinitum.

Last month, I also noted the recent strong performance of the gold mining stocks. Over the last four weeks, the miners have rallied another +20%. Fortunes will be made in this sector over the course of the bull market in precious metals.

The bull market in precious metals has historically coincided with periods of USD weakness. This time may be different as central banks across the world are all working towards the same goal as they attempt to destroy the value of their own currency relative to other to gain a competitive edge. Trillions of dollars, euros, pounds and yen have been created out of thin air. I expect USD weakness to drive the gold bull market in the years ahead, but potentially not to the same degree as prior episodes as the Fed has more competition this time. Gold will be the last currency standing when this game finally ends.

For more information on my gold market analysis, please get in touch. You can reach me at brian@secureinvestments.ie or 086 821 5911.