Odds & Ends
Quick Links
- ‹‹Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next››
1-5 of 14
Small Funds, Hidden Gems?
November 18, 2009
An article this week from Morningstar analyst Greg Wolper “Give Small Fund Shops a Chance” argues that investors who ignore small fund complexes may be missing out on growth opportunities.
It’s long been hard for small fund companies to get attention – they don’t have the money to spend on advertising that the giants have. But Wolper writes that “lesser-known firms, and funds, have advantages that make it worth the time to seek them out.”
He also makes a good point when he says that small fund managers can struggle when they try to cover too many asset classes and sectors. He says “a good small firm often focuses on one thing it does well.”
We recently revamped our company site—USFunds.com—to make it easier for new and returning visitors to quickly learn about U.S. Global Investors and its focus on the global growth theme, which is at the intersection of emerging markets and natural resources.
Wolper finishes by giving his readers some sound advice:
When you come across an intriguing fund in one of your screens, or in a media report, don’t ignore it just because the name is unfamiliar. Some investigation through Morningstar and on the fund’s Web site might lead you to conclude that this obscure fund is worth serious thought.
By clicking the link to the Morningstar story, you will be directed to Morningstar.com. U.S. Global Investors does not endorse all information supplied by this website and is not responsible for its content. All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. #09-812
How You Dig Yourself into Debt
August 26, 2009
Being deeply in debt is no fun, but a twist on a classic board game is a good way to show how quickly and easily many Americans dig themselves into big financial holes.
The graphic titled “A Life Time of Debt” uses the old “Game of Life” format of squares representing a path through life, only this version is a descent into perpetual debt starting as early as high school, when many take on their first payment plan for a car or other teenage must-have.
The numbers (from a variety of federal and other sources) are eye-opening indeed. The average four-year college student amasses $22,000 in student loans. Want to be a doctor? The average medical school graduate leaves with $113,000 in debt.
The graphic from CreditLoan.com lists the average monthly credit card balance per household in America as more than $10,000. That means the typical American family faces nearly $170 per month in interest alone on their plastic purchases.
The graphic also says the average American will pay more than $600,000 in interest over their lifetime.
The average college grad earns $2.1 million (in 2006 dollars) over a 40-year career, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. That means 28.5 percent of his lifetime earnings go to just paying interest on debt. That figure jumps to nearly 50 percent for those with a high school education.
Editor’s note: CreditLoan.com is in the business of debt refinancing and consolidation, so keep that in mind while playing the “game.”
*This link goes to VisualEconomic’s Web site. U.S. Global Investors does not endorse any information supplied by this website and is not responsible for any of its content. All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. None of U.S. Global Investors family of funds held any of the securities mentioned in this article as of 6/30/09. 09-579
Obama’s Bush-Like Foreign Policy
August 25, 2009
As a candidate, Barack Obama positioned himself as the Anti-Bush. But as president, his foreign policy actions and outcomes so far could be called Bush-Like.
That’s the view put forth in an interesting analysis from Stratfor Global Intelligence, a geopolitical think tank based in Austin, Texas.
Stratfor president George Friedman spins the globe and points out where the campaign rhetoric left off and the realities of being president set in.
We’re still deeply entrenched in Iraq. We are still telling the Iranians to negotiate on nuclear development, or else. Our tense relationship with the Russians over regional dominance remains intact. The French and Germans are still holding us at arm’s length despite Obama’s overtures. We are maintaining the status quo with China by focusing on our common economic interests and avoiding politics.
Sure, it’s only been seven months since Obama took office, but contrary to the view of Obama purists, Friedman says the promises made on the campaign trail naturally give way to reality. “He has conducted his foreign policy as if he were Bush. This is because Bush’s foreign policy was shaped by necessity, and Obama’s foreign policy is shaped by the same necessity.”
The same can be said for Obama’s approach to the U.S. recession—a heightened commitment to the Bush theme by more than doubling the economic stimulus spending.
The Stratfor article is available here*.
*This link goes to Stratfor’s Web site. U.S. Global Investors does not endorse any information supplied by this website and is not responsible for any of its content. All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. 09-578
Where Do You Stand on the Issues?
August 06, 2009
Name an issue and your political compass will guide your feelings toward it.
I often tell people what’s most important isn’t whether you belong to political party A or B but that you are engaged and active in particular issues that are important to you.
As investment managers, it’s important for us to follow political issues because they can affect how different investments perform.
For instance, proposed changes to America’s healthcare system can significantly impact the pharmaceutical, insurance and health services industries.
As important as it is to stay informed, we also must keep our personal politics aside at the office in order to look pragmatically at the investment impact.
If you’re one of those people who enjoy engaging in spirited debate on the issues of the day, then I have a something for you. A friend forwarded me this political spectrum quiz earlier this week that may be able to give you a better idea.
The quiz is unique because it not only measures where you stand on an issue, but also gauges how strong that stance is.
The quiz is not without its faults; some questions are polarizing just the way they are written but perhaps that was the intent in order to help galvanize your views.
Regardless if you’re a member of political party A, B or Z, it’s fun to engage in healthy debate and work in an environment with diverse opinions. If nothing else, it’s a fun way to check and see if your results are consistent with your convictions.
So where do you stand?
*This link goes to the GoToQuiz.com Web site. U.S. Global Investors does not endorse any information supplied by this website and is not responsible for any of its content. All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. 09-541
The World's Riskiest Countries
July 10, 2009
Africa and the Middle East are high reward but high risk propositions. Proof of the latter is in the 2009 Failed States Index from Foreign Policy magazine and The Fund for Peace.
The index ranks those countries most vulnerable to fail or that have already failed. A state is considered "failed" when it is no longer able to serve its people, either by delivering very low quantities and qualities of goods to citizens and/or losing its ability to control violence inside its borders.
The index rates 177 countries around the world, but only the 60 most vulnerable are included in the index. Seven of the top 10 are in Africa, and the other three will generate little surprise: Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
For the second straight year, Somalia leads the failure index by ranking first or near the top in each of the 12 categories. Somalia hasn't had a functioning government for several years and has recently become the pirate capital of the world.
The State Department's travel guide for Somalia: "Armed banditry, road assaults, kidnappings for ransom, shootings and grenade attacks on public markets, and detonations of anti-personnel and vehicle land mines regularly occur."
Ten Most Likely States to Fail
| 1. |  |
Somalia | 6. |  |
Iraq |
| 2. |  |
Zimbabwe | 7. |  |
Afghanistan |
| 3. |  |
Sudan | 8. |  |
Central African Republic |
| 4. |  |
Chad | 9. |  |
Guinea |
| 5. |  |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | 10. |  |
Pakistan |
Source: Foreign Policy, The Fund for Peace
Some have argued that Mexico was on the verge of becoming a failed state amid a rapid increase in drug-related violence. The index disagrees, placing it well out of the top 60 and behind Russia, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.
Surprisingly, China is in the top 60 at No. 57. While the country scores well on measures like external intervention and security, its lower scores on geographic evenness of development and demographic pressures have potential to create instability.
We could be seeing evidence of this in the recent deadly clashes between Han Chinese and Muslim Uighars in northwest China, where economic opportunities are far fewer than in the country's eastern provinces.
*View the Failed States Index Interactive Map
*By clicking the link you will be redirected to the Foreign Policy website. U.S. Global Investors does not endorse any information supplied by this website and is not responsible for any of its content. All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor.
- ‹‹Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next››
1-5 of 14
Net Asset Value
as of 11/20/2009
- Global Resources Fund
PSPFX $8.53 -0.06 - Gold and Precious Metals Fund
USERX $16.05 -0.08 - World Precious Minerals Fund
UNWPX $17.97 -0.02 - China Region Fund
USCOX $8.24 No Change - Eastern European Fund
EUROX $8.97 -0.10 - Global Emerging Markets Fund
GEMFX $7.94 -0.02 - Global MegaTrends Fund
MEGAX $7.94 -0.04 - All American Equity Fund
GBTFX $19.21 -0.10 - Holmes Growth Fund
ACBGX $15.12 -0.06 - Tax Free Fund
USUTX $12.24 +0.01 - Near-Term Tax Free Fund
NEARX $2.22 No Change - U.S. Government Securities Savings Fund
UGSXX $1.00 No Change - U.S. Treasury Securities Cash Fund
USTXX $1.00 No Change