Is now the time to buy stocks/shares??

DiggerUK

dunstonh wrote: »

For the long term.....then now is...better than last month. We just cant tell you if next month would be better or worse.You could phase it a bit over the coming weeks/months if you want to hedge your bets.

gtub2000, this is like the man who said, "we have known knowns, and unknown knowns, but we don't know what we don't know"

Also known as talking from the rear.

To say that buying now, is better than buying last month, is the same as saying it's all going to be OK. It is obvious to the blind that the future isn't rosey at all.
And all this from somebody who was recently advising those in private pensions, to go for the safe option, when approaching retirement, by investing in gilts, bonds and treasuries!!! all of which are showing massive inflation shortfall.
..._

DiggerUK

lvader wrote: »

.......is it better to buy shares cheaper or more expensive? .....

gtub2000, it is only worthwhile investing in shares if you can make a return on your money, and get your money returned.
What we see at the moment, is shares below their 2007 highs, which are way below their 1999 highs.
Some investment strategy long term with these stats.
..._

lvader

DiggerUK wrote: »

gtub2000, it is only worthwhile investing in shares if you can make a return on your money, and get your money returned.
What we see at the moment, is shares below their 2007 highs, which are way below their 1999 highs.
Some investment strategy long term with these stats.
..._

That just shows how important it is to do a fair amount of the buying during the dips. It's the same with investing in gold or PM's, whatever you decide to invest in, buy the dips.

Roland_Flagg

I'm no expert but I still think that downside is more the upside at the moment.
Europe is a major problem and the UK and U.S could very well
go back into recession.
I would not be suprised to see the DOW go as low as 9500 soon.
Of course, those who are clever enough will still be able to pick
winners when they bottom. But I'm not that clever!

DiggerUK

Roland_Flagg wrote: »

.......Of course, those who are clever enough will still be able to pick winners when they bottom. But I'm not that clever!

gtub2000, Roland does themselves down way too much.
Roland contributes, does research and thinks. But if you follow his example you will fall in to the arms of gurus. DYOR, the pair of you.
..._

gadgetmind

DiggerUK wrote: »

As there are red flags flying due to the headwinds of unemployment, GDP, inflation, and profitability; then what the hell makes you think it a good idea to invest in such zombies.

While our governments may be clueless undead, those running our major companies are rather more astute and said companies are making good profits and paying good dividends.

DiggerUK

lvader wrote: »

...... It's the same with investing in gold or PM's, whatever you decide to invest in, buy the dips.

gtub2000,
There will be many out there who bought Woolworth's, Bradford and Bingley, M.F.I., and Icelandic banks on the dips.
Some investment strategy eh!!!
..._

lvader

Those are individual companies, by dips I mean times like these when pretty much all shares are down.

DiggerUK

gadgetmind wrote: »

....... those running our major companies are rather more astute and said companies are making good profits and paying good dividends.

gtub2000, I guess the reference here, is to companies such as Woolworth's, M.F.I., and the banks.
..._

gadgetmind

DiggerUK wrote: »

gtub2000,
There will be many out there who bought Woolworth's, Bradford and Bingley, M.F.I., and Icelandic banks on the dips.
Some investment strategy eh!!!
..._

I guess it depends on their timings, their asset spread, and their sector spread. For every "wipe out" portfolio there are 100x as many portfolios that did very well, thank you very much.

Will any of the shares I bought today be total losses? Maybe. I think it's unlikely as the tree has been shaken well, but maybe. Can I cope with one or two such failures? Well, with no share being >3% of my portfolio, and no sector being >8%, I'm pretty sure I can ride the rapids.