David Blitzer
David Blitzer
chose exception generally japan markets obviously periods stock wrong
Over long periods of time, stock markets generally go up. Japan was obviously an exception if you chose the wrong 12 years.
companies feeling increasing pressure raise responsive sharing
A lot of companies are feeling increasing pressure to be responsive to their shareholders and to make sure their shareholders are sharing their profits. One way to do that is to raise dividends.
bad fuel notices trouble
Also, they're in such bad trouble, who notices the fuel costs?
company competition fact folks home less markets protective provides role surviving truth
There is truth to the fact that competition and markets are more global, especially in the U.S., where being protective of the home company is a little less fashionable than it was 10 or 15 years ago. Merging provides a role for these folks and makes them a surviving entity.
alan
As long as Alan Greenspan's not frowning, I'm not too worried.
beginning far horrendous
As horrendous as it looks, I'm beginning to feel we're not that far from a bottom.
change due impact investors low mergers number time unusually year
This is a year of unusually low S&P index turnover due to the low number of mergers and acquisitions in the large-cap sector. So we are making the change at a time when the impact on index investors will be minimized.
cap change expect expenses funds large less lower operating reflection segment tracking
This change makes the S&P 500 a better reflection of the large cap segment of the U.S. equities market. Index funds and exchange-traded funds can expect lower operating and transaction expenses and less tracking error.
continues focus investing investment
This investment continues our focus of investing in high-quality, stable, cash-generative businesses.
earnings sustained until
I think we have to get through the earnings until we see a sustained advance.
aware chasing investors managers performance
Large-cap managers have been chasing the performance of mid- and small-cap stocks, and investors may not be aware of this.
fairly narrow worry
I think it's a fairly narrow change. I don't think it's anything to worry about.
asset biggest concerns extremely home housing increased information largest majority period possible prices reliable rising valuable vast
For the vast majority of Americans, their home is their largest and most valuable asset, and in a period of rising housing prices and increased concerns about a possible housing bubble, reliable information on their biggest asset is extremely important.
hit knew last late low number oil time
This was one time hit from oil prices. We knew oil had to go up from an unsustainably low number late last year.