Category: General Firm Info
81 posts categorized as "General Firm Info"
31Jan
Astor’s 2020 Outlook
Click here to read Astor’s Outlook for 2020. Founder and CEO, Rob Stein, looks back at 2019 in the markets, as well as what could be in store for 2020.
16Jan
January Update on the U.S. Economy
This month we’ll take the opportunity to look back at both 2019 and the data as they stand at year end. It will come as no surprise to prior readers of this blog that the data has moderated substantially throughout the year, but in aggregate the current economic situation for the U.S. (and increasingly, abroad)…
9Jan
Protected: Astor Conference Call
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
3Jan
The Brain, Heart and Soul of Astor Investment Management
As the CEO and founder of Astor, I am often associated with its success. But just like a living organism is more than a face, so is a firm. It has a brain, a heart, and a soul—all of which are needed to stay alive and thrive. Reflecting on the year, which marks more than $2.6…
6Nov
November Update on the U.S. Economy
The Astor Economic Index, our proprietary nowcast of the U.S. economy has remained somewhat range bound for the past several months, and printed again this month at a level consistent with slightly below average domestic economic growth. We delve into some of the recent drivers of the AEI below. The Labor Market and Manufacturing In…
16Sep
September Update on the U.S. Economy
Recent Economic Data Our proprietary Astor Economic Index® was slightly changed last month and remains consistent with average economic growth in the U.S. In aggregate, economic data points towards a weakening but durable expansion. The ISM Purchasing Manufacturers Index headed into contraction territory at 49.1, down from 51.2 last month and the lowest reading since…
7Feb
Bond triple whammy
US ten-year bond yields have increased about 70 basis points to 2.8% over the last several months which gotten the attention of investors. While ancient market specimens like myself have a hard time seeing 2.8% as “high,” the change from the last several years is interesting. There is a good argument to be made that…
13Mar
This time we mean it – Janet Yellen reviews and previews monetary policy
One of the problems in this business is picking the few relevant pieces of information out of the endless stream of financial news, opinion and speculation. Like a prospectors looking for a slightly shinier flake of stone among the silt in our pans we occasionally pick out promising pieces we think have not gotten enough…
14Feb
February Quick Read on the US Economy
I interpreted last few month’s economic releases as showing somewhat stronger economic growth in the US. Our latest reading for the Astor Economic Index® (“AEI”) is higher over the month and has been moving steadily higher since the election to its highest level in about 18 months. I still see the US as currently growing…
26Jan
Prediction 2017: The End of the “Great Experiment of the Managed Economy”
As we look ahead to what 2017 may hold, I’m predicting the end of what I call “the great experiment”—the managed economy that has dominated the fiscal and economic landscape for nearly ten years. The reason, as we state in the Astor Outlook 2017 Report, is not political. Rather, it’s time! Given where we are…
18Jan
The Astor Pulse: How To Talk to your Clients about….
How to Talk to Your Clients About …. Dynamic Asset Allocation For many investors, the phrase “asset allocation” brings to mind the traditional 60/40 split between stocks and bonds. In today’s low-return market environment, however, the standard 60/40 asset allocation may not suffice. At Astor, we believe the solution for investors is to include dynamic…
19Dec
An Active Approach to Diversify Fixed Income Portfolios
“Active” may not be the approach that immediately comes to mind in income investing. But as the fixed income markets have reminded us recently, taking an active approach can be key to both controlling risk and capturing yield. Click here to learn more about Astor’s Active Income Strategy Consider the recent move in the 10-year…
13Dec
The Fed and the Economy – What’s Next?
Navigating the low-return environment has been one of the top concerns for fixed income investors throughout 2016. Consider the fact that 35% of the global treasury market (as of this writing) is trading at negative nominal yields, which begs the question: Why are interest rates so low? Read below to find out why…. or watch…
13Dec
Is This Really a “Trump” Rally?
The latest market surge, as the Dow powers toward 20,000, is being called the “Trump stock market rally.” But as an economist and a realist, I have to question whether stocks would rally this much just on hope and expectations for a new administration, without the help of some other catalyst. Granted, since the election,…
6Dec
What Investors Got Wrong in 2016
As we look back on 2016, a notable theme is just how wrong the markets were when it came to predicting events and risk drivers. The year began on a pessimistic note. By the February 11 low, the S&P 500 had lost more than 10%, and high-yield bonds were down more than 5%. A major…
6Dec
Last Economic Update for 2016
For my last economic update of the year I will review where we are today and try to read the tea-leaves of the incoming Trump administration. The president elect is lucky in inheriting a solidly growing economy. His penchant for decisive action may run into procedural roadblocks in Washington which could significantly delay actions which…
30Nov
Astor Refines Strategy Names: Providing a “solution focus” for current and prospective clients
Effective December 1, 2016, Astor Investment Management is changing the name of its flagship Astor Long/Short Balanced strategy to Astor Dynamic Allocation. Over the years, the term “long/short” has changed so much, we believe “Astor Dynamic Allocation” is more accurate and reflective of our investment philosophy and approach. In addition, we are changing the name…
28Nov
Operations As a Vehicle for Business Success
All investment advisers have an asset target in mind. In order to reach that finish line, you need to have a solid vehicle. Having a qualified portfolio manager (i.e. the driver) is a large part of the race, but it is certainly harder to accomplish without efficient and effective systems and processes in place. A…
21Nov
Revisiting Active Investing: Is the Trend in Passive Over?
Over the past few years, financial advisors and their clients, in search of low-cost ways to capture market performance, have piled into passive investment strategies. As the Wall Street Journal reported recently, for the three years ended Aug. 31, 2016, nearly $1.3 trillion flowed into passive mutual funds and ETFs. For investors, it seemed like…
9Nov
Analysis: The 2016 Presidential Election
In light of Donald Trump’s win and the GOP hold of all three branches of government, the question on most minds today is, what is the outlook for the US economy? My short answer is that it is too early to tell. At Astor, our philosophy is to be guided by actual economic data rather than…