Value Investing and the Mis-measures of Modern Portfolio Theory with Bruce Greenwald (September 2014).

In his new book, “The Forgotten Depression”, Grant argues that the price mechanism (ie minimal or no Fed intervention) is a far more effective way to clear markets and allocate capital than an activist Fed. Grant’s book focuses on the 1921 depression and its quick recovery. Grant states that the price mechanism is a “far more resilient and constructive force than present day policy makers admit.”

Interview on Bloomberg

Bruce Berkowitz, value investor at the Fairholme Funds, talks about risk.

Leon Cooperman has always struck me as one of the wisest men on Wall Street. Here are his clips from today on CNBC:

Dramatically changed market structure

Economic concern

Correction checklist

Energy picks

Monitise

Buy stocks, not bonds

The SPY dropped 1.62% and the DOW dropped 264 points. The market closed at its lows for the day. So is this the beginning of a long awaited correction? Maybe. But lots of people including me have thought that many times in the past.

But in the short-term this might be a buying or trading opportunity. I am not predicting that but will bring up something we have written about in the past, and that is the pop in the VIX.

Not surprisingly, when the market falls hard like it did today, the VIX will have a big move to the upside. Today it burst up by over 20% to close at 16.00. That puts the VIX two standard deviations above its mean when measured over a 20-day period. In the past, that has been a buy signal.

Here is how it has worked out over the last year:

The average 5-day return has been 1.04% and 1.52%. More impressive is that several of these signals have been good entry points over the longer run. If the market fails to have some kind of positive reversal that might be a signal that a correction is beginning, or it might not! That is the market (and why it is usually better to focus on the long run).

Leon Cooperman and Howard Marks, two of the sharpest investors, on Bloomberg.

In regards to valuations Marks says that most assets are on the high side of fair value. Interest rates are being held at unnaturally low levels which implies that prices are unnaturally high. When the bond market ceases to be manipulated, rates will rise and that means that bonds will decline in price.

Cooperman talked about the equity markets. He said that over the last 50 years the SP500 has had an average p/e ratio of about 15, and when inflation was low (between 1 and 3%) the p/e averaged closer to 17. During the time when the p/e averaged 15 the 10-year government bond averaged about 6.67% and US Treasury Notes averaged 4.4%. Today, the p/e is at about 16. However, we have close to 0% short rates and 10-year government bonds are at about 2.5%.

Cooperman thinks the market is discounting either a rise in interest rates or slower growth. When the first interest rate happens, there will be an adjustment but the market typically rises for about 2-years plus after the first increase.

UP AND DOWN WALL STREET

Lower interest rates in Europe have not really helped as the unemployment is high and the economy is still dragging, with GDP close to flat. So Draghi has announced an asset purchase plan and the ECB cut interest rates into effectively negative territory for banks. The benefactor of this might be the rest of the world including the US.  A good portion of this new liquidity will end up in the US, pushing the dollar up and lowering inflation and lowering US interest rates. This will ease the impact of a less accommodative Fed. To use a football analogy, Yellen has handed the ball off to Draghi to keep the party is going.

STEAMING AHEAD

Ten top market strategists expect the bull market rally to continue. The SP500 is at 2007.71 which is higher than the average target of 1977 when the panelists met in December. They are looking for 2030 by year-end.

None are negative on the market. 18 to 24 months out 2500 is the high target.

They are looking for a 7% earnings increase this year and 8.1% in 2015, that is up from 5.7% in 2013.

The S&P has a 12-month forward p/e of 15.8 right now. It was 15 at the beginning of the year. The long-term forward p/e average is 15. The strategists do not see a sell off of any major kind (10% or more).

THE TRADER

The ECB cut interest rates to .05% from .15% and announced additional stimulus. The SP500 was up 4.34 points to 2007.71 for the week to close at a record. Economic growth should continue in the US. Adam Parker of Morgan Stanley thinks the SP500 could hit 3000 in five years if the expansion continues. IPOs are up to their highest point since 2000, an increase of 50% over last year.

The column is bullish on Mexico.

SP500 2007.71 +0.22%.

Advances 1371
Declines 1837
Unchanged 65
New Highs 402
New Lows 52

Great article on the 108-year old investment veteran Irving Kahn.