Kyle Gann, himself a minimalist composer, has argued that minimalism represented a predictable return to simplicity after the development of an earlier style had run its course to an extreme and unsurpassable complexity.

The convertible preferreds are regarded as safe, and they yield a predictable, bond-like return.

The lure is powerful: high-quality holdings, predictable returns.

An extended period of market weakness, which would add to the appeal of predictable returns, could rekindle investor interest in companies that pay out cash.

They offer principal preservation, predictable returns, and a rate higher than similar options without proportionately increasing risk.

The investment objective of stable value funds is to provide capital preservation and predictable, steady returns.

For predictable returns on savings, cash has a place in most investment portfolios as depositing money into a bank or building society is easy to understand.

They say the current pension-accounting practices are valid because a pension plan exists for the long run, and can therefore be expected to earn predictable average annual returns over the long run.

To ensure a stable playing field where one can make an investment with predictable returns, a modicum of regulation is necessary.

Therefore, they often accept smaller, predictable earnings rather than larger and less predictable returns," he wrote.