stockmarkets -are we nearing the bottom or is there further to go ??

bigadaj

fun4everyone wrote: »

Would now be a good time for a beginner investor to purchase some stocks and shares? Or would it be more prudent to wait?

As good a time as any.

The threads above are useful in that they show the benefit of a diversified portfolio, so whilst shares are down, then the fact you have international holdings and the pound has fallen means that the value in sterling is retained, wouldn't be the case if you were wholly invested in the uk.

Regular investing in a diversified fund is likely to be your best option.

economic

I'm in that dilemma as well. I would say wait as it seems like confidence is collapsing and I think stock market will correct. I would stay in cash for now.

economic

bigadaj wrote: »

As good a time as any.

The threads above are useful in that they show the benefit of a diversified portfolio, so whilst shares are down, then the fact you have international holdings and the pound has fallen means that the value in sterling is retained, wouldn't be the case if you were wholly invested in the uk.

Regular investing in a diversified fund is likely to be your best option.

Pound has already fallen. International stocks are high for sterling investor. Probably a good time to wait to see what happens as there's expected to be a lot of volatility in the next few days.

JohnRo

Or would it be more prudent to wait?

Having a clear long term plan is far more important than trying to second guess the market and time entry. Unless you're just talking about taking a quick punt and hoping to grab a quick short term gain you should consider making an investment plan first, then decide.

Short term there is very little upside imo but if there is to be major panic and a sell off then it should help to clear out a lot of QE sponsored malinvestment and the market will then eventually rebound. Worth remembering though that's already happened to some extent.

That said, waiting a week or two to see if any sort of rout looks likely won't hurt, I suspect many folks are about to have their appetite for risk severely tested but who knows.

All I know is I won't be selling anything and my long term investment plans will continue.

fun4everyone

JohnRo wrote: »

Having a clear long term plan is far more important than trying to second guess the market .

My plan would simply to be buy and hold inside an ISA for as long as possible, at least 15 years. I don't think I can "beat the market". I would have to research exactly what to buy and the current fall I have read about has made me think it might be good to do that now. Could be wrong. I wanted remain badly and trying to make something good come out of this for myself.

JohnRo

I wanted remain badly and trying to make something good come out of this for myself.

I was conflicted in truth, though you might not think it from some of the posts I've made, but really don't think what's happened will solve anything material, for the foreseeable future anyway. Certainly not for the those who've made it happen who will probably suffer the most. The people who've persuaded them will of course continue to do very well for themselves regardless.

The thing to ask yourself though is do you really need this money you're investing, is it really that desperately important to you and if the answer is yes then putting it all in the stock market is not the right thing to do.

At the very least I'd focus on making sure your PSA is being used up first.

If you genuinely accept the risks, are fully aware of what all the investment warnings mean, that there are no guarantees and that you may well get back less than you invest, then just go for it, in a measured and planned way. Look to the long term and in the mean time let the market do what it does best without fretting about the inevitable short term volatility.

TheTracker

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

No as I said I made under 30% which was less than the peak. I am not perfect.

Anyway we now near 5,500 not far now. But there is still mileage to go methinks.

I notice in the press that stocks are down. It's good to revisit the most recent post by a renowned MSE doom monger, 2 years ago almost to the day gleeful at a FTSE 5500 (its now 7400), and here we are today 24% higher even after a dip.

Baa baa baa.

ChesterDog

Quite.

There should be no excitement - and certainly not fear - in watching markets behave as they always do from time to time.

When you're invested in the expectation of the sea-level rising over coming years, the fact that the tide goes in and out while those years pass is interesting, but unimportant.

Glen_Clark

TheTracker wrote: »

I notice in the press that stocks are down. It's good to revisit the most recent post by a renowned MSE doom monger, 2 years ago almost to the day gleeful at a FTSE 5500 (its now 7400), and here we are today 24% higher even after a dip.

Baa baa baa.

Yes, and so far I am glad I ignored it and stayed invested.
But that does mean that markets have further to fall now.
Problem is if you sell where do save the money?
I can remember 25% inflation so I am slightly more scared of holding Sterling cash than a portfolio of worldwide companies that look better managed and more solvent than the British Government.
Its all the QE money and 'Emergency' interest rates keeping prices so high.
People have been expecting Central Banks to unwind that for over 10 years. Although they said they would, so far they haven't done so. Those who believed what politicians and their puppets were saying have missed out on big gains. I doubt they will unwind QE much because they seem hooked on QE and low interest rates like a junkie on heroin.
But that doesn't mean they will never unwind QE. If and when they do, prices will fall. :eek:

ChesterDog

IanManc wrote: »

Meanwhile the media coverage has been bordering on the hysterical. :eek:

:rotfl:

Yes, and that is such a shame.

It creates an atmosphere in which those who do not know the truth (that sensible, diverse, longterm investments based principally in equities are the way to future financial security) equate the stockmarket with casinos or with the likes of bitcoin.