The Importance Of Bonds In A Balanced Portfolio. The bond market has enjoyed a three-decade bull (positive/upward) market run. Treasury bond yields peaked in the fall of 1981 at about 16%. Today, the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury Note yields around just 2%. At this yield, it is not even keeping pace with inflation, causing a negative (less than inflation) real rate of return. Read More>

So Far So Good In 2012. The year 2011 ended with stock investors feeling frustrated and dizzy from the Dow’s extreme volatility. Needless to say, they were also unnerved by news on the continuing crisis in Europe. Along with mild winter weather over the first five weeks of 2012, investors have started to feel better about prospects for the markets and more confident about the economy.
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