Consumer discretionary names have suffered as budget-conscious consumers have reined in spending. But weakness breeds opportunity. We sat down with John Harris, manager of Fidelity Select Consumer Discretionary (FSCPX), to discuss where we are in the discretionary cycle and where investors should look if they want to make a cyclical bet on recovery.
We talk to two investing experts who tell us what to buy now and why.
I continue to expect a pullback in the market this fall, but I think that will present an excellent buying opportunity–economic data continue to point towards recovery.
As signs continue to point to recovery, the question of inflation becomes more pressing.
In every issue of Personal Finance, we discuss a handful of stocks that never make it into a portfolio. Here’s an update on how those ideas have performed and a recap of four of our favorites.
Over the past few months anyone with an e-mail account has probably been contacted about managed futures. Here’s look at what they are and how they work.
There’s been a lot of froth in the markets lately, with small-cap stock funds performing especially well in the rally off the March lows. But that doesn’t mean that investors should just throw money at every small-cap name–there should always be a reason to expect an upside.
We’re strong believers in active management and have always liked focused funds that have an understandable method which has proven itself over the years.
Prior to taking the helm of Janus Global Life Sciences (JFNAX) in 2007, Andrew Acker spent four years co-managing the fund. In 2008, the first full year of his tenure, the fund suffered a crushing 29 percent loss. It’s since rallied more than 30 percent off the March lows and now ranks in the top quintile of the health care category. We spoke with Acker to get an expert’s take on the likelihood of a health care reform package being passed and the shape it ultimately might take.
The specter of uncertainty continues to haunt the health care sector and in the case of many individual names, investors appear to be pricing in Armageddon. Health care reform will pose challenges for some companies in the industry, but the pervading uncertainty offers an opportunity to pick up quality names on the cheap.
