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With the very strong employment report this morning the 10 year treasury has jumped up to 2.19%. This is the highest rate since early December and we will see how preferreds and exchange traded debt react. In the last few weeks these sectors have pretty much ignored higher trending rates--while REITs and Utilities have been moving in both directions---I believe…

Today we took the opportunity to add a few hundred shares (300 shares) of REIT Chambers Street Properties (ticker:CSG) to both the 2014 Model Portfolio - Blended Income and the 2015 Model Portfolio - Blended Income. With the moderate correction that has been occuring in the REITs CSG has fallen from the $8.75 area a month ago to $7.95 today. With this drop…

As interest rates continue a modest creep higher there remains plenty of excitement yet to come this week.Starting on Wednesday we have the ADP Employment report.  We realize this is mostly a balony report--but if markets pay attention then I guess we have to also. The consensus is 220,000 new jobs for February. Sounds pretty much like a Goldilocks number--not too…

Some recent notes from readers.Dave asks about OTC Temp Ticker CHNPP.  It is now trading under its permanent ticker of CHSCL (CHS 7.50% preferred) and is trading at $27.11. One could have bought it at the 'wholesale price' of $25.25 or so when it was first trading.Gary mentioned an issue we were not aware of Intl FCStone which has some 8.50% notes…

Well February was a good investing month for income investors. While REITs are experiencing a little indigestion, preferred stocks and exchanged traded debt performed well and now, just in the last couple of weeks, business development companies (BDC's) got turned around finally and recouped some of their recent losses.Our 2014 Model Portfolio - Blended Income (last years model which continues to run) moved…