Asymmetric Investment Returns is a blog authored by Mike Shell since 2006, covering topics about asymmetric investing and trading for asymmetric risk/reward in pursuit of asymmetry.
Many options-based funds like Buffered, Overlay, and Defined Outcome ETFs promise downside protection with upside potential—but most fail to deliver true asymmetry. Here's why.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which sets U.S. monetary policy by adjusting interest rates, unanimously voted to keep the fed funds rate in the 4.25%–4.5% range in March. The most notable change in the post-meeting statement was the addition of a new clause: “Uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased.” It's an illusion of asymmetric insight.
The stock market is a constant battle between buying pressure and selling pressure, and recently, that battle has shifted in a meaningful way. After a strong rally earlier in the year, we’ve now seen a notable change in the risk/reward asymmetry. Markets don’t move in a straight line, and shifts in trend strength often signal the potential for new opportunities—or new risks.
The global fixed-income landscape is at a key inflection point, with notable divergences emerging across major bond markets. While U.S. Treasury yields show signs of trend exhaustion, other developed market bonds are stabilizing at key technical levels. These shifts create asymmetric opportunities for tactical investors who focus on structuring trades with predefined downside risk and significant upside potential.
The latest report on the U.S. economy provides insights into the strength of the services sector and manufacturing activity amid ongoing tariff uncertainties. The ISM Services Index saw an uptick, while factory orders aligned with expectations, offering a mixed economic signal. Here’s what investors need to know.
Howard Marks has a unique ability to distill complex market dynamics into clear, actionable insights, and his latest memo, "On Bubble Watch," is no exception. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of recognizing the telltale signs of a market bubble, the psychology driving it, and the necessary caution that comes with it.