Consumer Confidence came in at the highest level since 2008.  Really?  Is this a real world picture or a possible politicized number from a smaller sample of the population?  As we look at industry after industry, it appears that the … Continue reading →

Is anyone surprised that the economy has slowed and 2Q GDP came in at 1.5%?  I am not because if you live in the real world then you see, live and read about the trends and costs associated with the … Continue reading →

We have spoken quite often over the years about our passion and profession here at Peritus: high yield corporate debt. Just what is high yield corporate debt and what does it offer investors?  These are questions we have answered in … Continue reading →

Demand = Catalyst Catalyst = Profits Profits = Spending Spending = GDP Growth As I read the government release of the household wealth gains/losses I can’t help but immediately think about what this means to GDP growth in the US.  … Continue reading →

Fitch reported that the trailing 12-month default rate remained flat in April at 1.9%, as the month produced two defaults. The recent bankruptcy filings by mortgage lender Residential Capital (ResCap) and aircraft maker Hawker Beechcraft added $3.4 billion to the … Continue reading →

What do we make of all this data and news coming at us?  How do we make investment decisions based on all of this?  Where do I put my life savings/investments as it all moves so fast?  These are questions … Continue reading →

Is this a surprise?  When you live deep in the sea of corporate financials, you have a good take on what is going on in the world.  Unlike many investment advisors across the U.S., Peritus actually builds financial spreadsheets and … Continue reading →

There has been a lot of debate about Active Management versus Passive Management and how money flows into these funds affects performance.  I don’t know how many of you watched the CNBC interview today with PIMCO’s Bill Gross.  He was … Continue reading →

Jobless claims were above all the expert expectations in the latest week.  There has to be demand for companies to hire workers.  The Kansas City Manufacturing Activity was well below expectations, which is further evidence that demand is not there.  … Continue reading →

The CPI (Consumer Price Index) up 3.1% year over year and GDP growth estimates between 1% – 1.5%, depending on who you speak to, does not add up to a growth in consumer spending and equity markets as a whole. … Continue reading →