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Bill Miller's Case Against Commodities





I for sure missed the recent commodity boom, but I totally agree that now is not the right time to jump in. In fact, I'm holding the capital C of Citigroup as Bill preferred, and am quite comfortable with the 4% yield and recent stock price appreciation.

From Morningstar:

In his latest commentary, Legg Mason Value manager Bill Miller argues the rush to get on the commodities bandwagon by journalists and pension funds alike is yet another sign that we're nearing a ceiling for the category's performance.

"Since the (commodities) rally we are experiencing is already bigger and longer lasting than the one that kicked off the 70's, it takes a determined optimist to say that now is time to be putting money in commodities," Miller wrote.

...

He goes on to say: "The US equity market has lagged those of the rest of the world by a wide margin for several years, and within our market the mega cap S&P names have lagged the small and mid caps, which are in the 7th year of relative outperformance, quite long in the tooth by historic standards. Part of the reason for the relative lack of interest in US stocks has been the relentless rise in short rates. Our central bank has been noticeably more hawkish than the rest of world, and money has flowed to where money was the easiest, outside the US. As we end our tightening cycle, and others remain engaged in theirs, our market should become relatively more attractive."

He concludes, "In general, you can get a good sense of what to buy now by looking to see what the worst performing assets or groups were over the past five or six years. That is long term for most people, and long enough to convince them that the malaise is permanent and to have migrated their money elsewhere, such as to whatever has done best in the past 5 or 6 years. Given the choice of buying Commodities with a capital C, or buying capital C--Citigroup--at current prices, I'll take the latter. Check back in 5 years."

This post has 2 comments. Read and share your opinions.

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Comments
>>> Erich Commented on April 30, 2006

The average bull market in commodities lasts 18 years (see this: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jan2006/pi20060125_3506_pi057.htm. On an inflation adjusted basis, the price of many commodities like gold are nowhere near their all time highs. We are maybe 5 years into this cycle, with many more to come. I have great repect for Bill Miller (with his track record, how can one not?) - but I repectfully disagree with his opinion here.


>>> Coach Coin Commented on April 30, 2006

I'm about 4% in commodities for the long haul. There should be some component in that asset class for diversification. I've been moving into US large caps slowly over the last year as well. My international funds have been huge to my growth but it's got to be slowing now.



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