Jim Parker, from DFA Australia Limited, shares some more wonderful insights and links:
As
a new year begins, the financial media typically is full of speculative
commentary about what the coming 12 months will hold for markets. The
assumption underlying this content is that someone, somewhere has a reliable
crystal ball.
The
truth, however, is that everyone is guessing. A few guesses turn out to be
right. Most turn out to be wrong. And that’s because those making these forecasts
fail to account for the random nature of events. Ultimately, it’s not a good
way to invest.
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| Wrong, Random or Worse |
| Everywhere you look at this time of the year, someone is telling you what stocks to buy in 2019, the chances of a recession, the likely path of interest rates and what will happen to currencies. These forecasts are really guesses and are often just a pitch to get you to trade. In fact, Barry Ritholtz sees forecasting as an exercise in futility. |
 | The problem with market forecasts goes beyond their inaccuracy. The real issue is their failure to recognise the randomness of the world. https://bloom.bg/2QBfQUf |
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| The Market in Fear |
| Have you noticed how much media commentary about the market outlook is gloomy? We’re told to brace for everything from meltdowns to depression. Part of this is economic, as research shows human beings are wired to give greater weight to bad news than good. This means there’s an in-built market for fear. |
 | Our in-built loss aversion makes us more likely to click on bad news headlines. Keep that in mind when you are confronted with 2019 ‘outlooks’. http://bit.ly/2RzZsDV |
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| Separating Noise from Signal |
| So much media commentary around markets is just noise. For example, at the start of every year you’ll see articles saying it’s now “a climate for stock pickers” or that “the rules have changed”. Veteran investor and fund manager David Booth has heard it all and provides a refreshing perspective on market forecasting. |
 | Market forecasts are ubiquitous around this time. But this veteran fund manager says most are just noise designed to get you to trade. http://bit.ly/2REnm1e |
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DFA Australia Limited
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