Contrarian Investor: Learning to love stagnation

'Fearing fear itself'

Although stockmarkets have recovered some of their nerve in recent weeks, there is still a pervasive stench of 'stagnationism', bearishness, and all round cynicism swirling around the global markets.

There is a sense we are always on the edge of a financial abyss. I have also observed the overall ageing of our developed world population might be leading to a general sense of grumpy old (financial) man syndrome. Of course, all this worrying has very practical, real world investment impacts. More investors have now bought into the Japanification thesis, and I can imagine perma-bear Albert Edwards is more frequently muttering 'I told you so', as gilt yields move ever closer to 1%. SocGen's Edwards: Latest yen weakness will prompt 'tidal wave of deflation' The investment outcomes...