Contents
Navigating through Troubled Water
Triple A: Lost, but Not Forgotten
Possible, but Not Probable, Consequences
Treasury Bills, the Favored Asset Class
Municipals Felt the Pain as Well
Auction-Rate Markets Were Hit Hard
Direction in a Sometimes Directionless Market
The Federal Reserve and Central Banks
A Short-Term Fixed Income Investor
FOMC: Look for Clues from the Fed Statement
What to Look For from the Fed … Clues?
Calming Statements for Investors
The Payroll Picture: The Backbone to the Economy
Bureau of Labor Statistics Website
Inflation: A Fixed Income Investor's Enemy
The Federal Chairman: The Wizard Himself
The Ladder and Why You Need One
Varieties of Short-Term Strategies
Performance and How to Measure It
Alternatives to a Traditional Ladder Strategy
Consider MBS Pools of Mortgages
Credit Analysis: Necessary, Not Optional
The Four Pillars of Trade Execution
The First Pillar: Executed Price
The Second Pillar: Dealer Inquiries
The Fourth Pillar: Ease of Transaction