Practical analysis for investment professionals 
In the first quarter of 2013, institutional investors added to their equity holdings in the healthcare sector while reducing their exposure to the technology stocks. Among the most widely held stocks, portfolio managers as a group added to positions in Citigroup (C), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Microsoft (MSFT), and BlackRock (BLK), and trimmed positions in Apple (AAPL), Oracle (ORCL), Pfizer (PFE), and Coca-Cola (KO). Read more
1 CommentIn a recent poll conducted in the CFA Institute Financial NewsBrief, we asked readers, “Should fund managers be required to disclose their portfolio holdings on a quarterly basis?” Nearly 77% of the 737 global respondents think fund managers should be required to disclose their portfolio holdings on a quarterly basis, while about 23% of respondents don’t believe managers should have to reveal their positions every three months. Read more
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What do quant great Edward O. Thorp, behavioralist Jamies Montier, and value investing legends, Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, have in common? These investment practitioners all make a seemingly incongruous appearance together in Quantitative Value, a new book by Wesley Gray and Tobias Carlisle. Read more
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As we come upon the close of the first quarter of 2013, most major equity indices around the globe are showing impressive gains, buoyed by continued monetary easing by central banks and hopeful signs of economic resurgence. While investors will likely look for confirmation in upcoming earnings reports, the recent negative preannouncement from economic bellwether FedEx (FDX) should serve as a reminder that profit margins are near all-time highs and could represent a significant hurdle for stocks. Read more
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A recap of some of the notable portfolio changes made by several prominent investors in the fourth quarter of 2012. Read more
Leave a Comment Continued central bank accommodation and a growing consensus that global economic conditions may be improving have combined to push equity indices higher at the start of the year. As we enter the heart of earnings season, investors will undoubtedly be looking for confirmation from the corporate sector. Time will tell if the recent rush of enthusiasm on the part of investors will be rewarded. Read more
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Our ten most-popular articles from the past year include coverage of the ever-unfolding European sovereign debt crisis, how the election cycle affects the markets, and Warren Buffett’s secret sauce. Read more
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Top posts from last month included an analysis of Warren Buffett’s winning strategy, an explanation of the relationship between the current account deficit and QE3, and an overview of Aswath Damodaran’s recent examination of value investing. Read more
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Equity investors liked what they heard from central bankers Mario Draghi and Ben Bernanke earlier this month and have pushed most global indices higher. Chinese stocks, coping with a steady flow of skepticism and negative economic news, have been a notable exception. Looking ahead, as corporate earnings come back into focus, bullish sentiment may very well fade without meaningful signs of a sustained economic recovery. Read more
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