Daily Archives: November 22, 2013

Boxplot Performance Analysis… Now Available In Weekly Doses

Starting with the next issue of the newsletter, The ETF Asset Class Performance Review will feature boxplots that summarize performance data for the 14 categories of asset classes that are sliced and diced each week. I briefly discussed boxplots earlier this month as a tool for “cutting through the market noise.” The main attraction is the ability to quickly summarize rolling performance data across a range of asset classes (or markets within an asset class) in search of insight on portfolio rebalancing decisions.

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Macro-Markets Risk Index: 14.0% | 11.22.2013

The US economic trend continues to rebound in November, based on a markets-based profile of macro conditions. The Macro-Markets Risk Index (MMRI) closed at 14.0% on Thursday, Nov. 21. MMRI’s revival this month suggests that business cycle risk remains low. The current 14.0% value is twice as high as the lowest reading for the year to date—7.5% posted in mid-September—and comfortably above the 0% danger zone. If MMRI falls under 0%, that would be a sign that recession risk is elevated. By comparison, readings above 0% imply a bias for economic growth.

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