It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

Sea_Shell

Shortness of breath - check
Excessive sweating - check
Aching muscles - check


Side effects of a 6 mile run - check!!
  

atush

Slinky said:

atush said:

Slinky said:

Having received a second letter from my pensions company informing me my portfolio was down 21% from January (as at 3 days ago), I've instructed them today to liquidate 75% into cash and keep 25% in the least exposed part of my portfolio. I've already lost a six figure sum, I can't just let so much more slip away. It's been years of hard work and all of it from my own contributions as I've been self employed for the past 15 years. It was only more recently I could stick decent amounts in so I was in a medium-high risk portfolio which has now come back and bitten me on the bum. Ho hum.

I've also started selling shares in my ISA.

Who knows if these are the right decisions, but they would have been better taken last week. I can only hope that next week I can look back and think I did the right thing.

Ive started buying, not selling.

What is it that makes you think we're near the bottom?

I dont know if we are or if we arent.  But i am buying selectively and not every day- not ness every week.  Got some things on my list (high Div ITs and some wealth preservation ones) that i will buy one at a time.  Have been sitting on a bit of a cash pile for a while.

JoeEngland

Sea_Shell said:

JoeEngland said:

Sea_Shell said:

Self isolation TV viewing sorted...

Box sets of "the Last Ship" 
DVDs of "Outbreak" and "Deep Impact"

  

No Walking Dead?!

Never watched it...is it zombies?  Not my bag.  

Lots of zombies. Not dissimilar to the town centre a few miles from where I live (pre-pandemic).

Thrugelmir

Sea_Shell said:

Shortness of breath - check
Excessive sweating - check
Aching muscles - check

Sounds like me when I'm desperately searching for the last bottle of beer in the house. 

Thrugelmir

atush said:

Slinky said:

atush said:

Slinky said:

Having received a second letter from my pensions company informing me my portfolio was down 21% from January (as at 3 days ago), I've instructed them today to liquidate 75% into cash and keep 25% in the least exposed part of my portfolio. I've already lost a six figure sum, I can't just let so much more slip away. It's been years of hard work and all of it from my own contributions as I've been self employed for the past 15 years. It was only more recently I could stick decent amounts in so I was in a medium-high risk portfolio which has now come back and bitten me on the bum. Ho hum.

I've also started selling shares in my ISA.

Who knows if these are the right decisions, but they would have been better taken last week. I can only hope that next week I can look back and think I did the right thing.

Ive started buying, not selling.

What is it that makes you think we're near the bottom?

I dont know if we are or if we arent.  But i am buying selectively and not every day- not ness every week.  Got some things on my list (high Div ITs and some wealth preservation ones) that i will buy one at a time.  Have been sitting on a bit of a cash pile for a while.

Speaking to friend in Sydney today. Sounds as Quantas are laying off many of their staff on 6 months unpaid leave. Makes one realise that the impact is going to ripple on for some time after the virus is finally tamed. Forgive the pun, but investing for the long haul seems a wise approach. 

cfw1994

Slinky said:

atush said:

Slinky said:

Having received a second letter from my pensions company informing me my portfolio was down 21% from January (as at 3 days ago), I've instructed them today to liquidate 75% into cash and keep 25% in the least exposed part of my portfolio. I've already lost a six figure sum, I can't just let so much more slip away. It's been years of hard work and all of it from my own contributions as I've been self employed for the past 15 years. It was only more recently I could stick decent amounts in so I was in a medium-high risk portfolio which has now come back and bitten me on the bum. Ho hum.

I've also started selling shares in my ISA.

Who knows if these are the right decisions, but they would have been better taken last week. I can only hope that next week I can look back and think I did the right thing.

Ive started buying, not selling.

What is it that makes you think we're near the bottom?

Well....I do agree now is a decent time to buy, not sell.
People were happy investing right up to the CV19 event.....
......and when I look at the FTSE, DOW, NASDAQ and S&P500, I see they are all 27-31% down (corrected numbers!!) on their “high point” of Feb 21st.

Could they go lower? Probably!  Much lower? Maybe....but my guess is not much.

Could they bumble along low for many months? Of course they could....and no-one knows if a recovery will be slow or V-shaped.

But I firmly feel they will recover.  

Maybe it will take several years.....who knows.  I suspect not, but I do know I am guessing.
The world is a very different place to that which the Spanish Flu hit back in 1918-19.

Therefore, unless you need the cash now, I would agree it is a great time to continue to invest.  If you can, of course: CV19 will dramatically hit many people.

If, however, you feel things will continue to zero or never recover....then I would suggest the finance situation is the least of the issues you (we!) face.  

“Cashing in” now, by selling equity, simply guarantees you will “crystallise” those losses. 

So many are affected.  DD here has been brought home in her final year: no final end of Uni parties....just self-studying to finish hers.  Son now no longer temp working in the pub, waiting to hear about post-grad applications.  SWMBO has decamped to look after her frail mum (have to say we are not taking the risks you dismiss, DQ, but she does have COPD and had a scary A&E resus episode 2 weeks ago: we are all very keen to avoid that in the weeks ahead).  We will visit, do shopping, gardening but give them a clear gap....could last many many weeks.  Everything up in the air.
Tough times ahead....but plenty of hope too.  

I’ve been astonished at the speed our government has moved this week, & I expect more to come.  This is very much a war, with an unseen enemy, but we will win.

Sea_Shell

Managed to get out in the garden to start a bit of tidying up, spoke to our neighbours (at a safe distance over the fence).  Everyone seems OK so far! 

Going off for a run shortly.  Will stick to the country lanes, as you usually don't see a soul.    Got more chance of being run over!!  (yes, I wear Hi-Viz, no earphones)   

I'll then have a lovely soak in the bath and try and just forget the world for a while.   (I seem be channelling Snow Patrol!!)

Take care.

quirkydeptless

Thrugelmir said:

Sea_Shell said:

Shortness of breath - check
Excessive sweating - check
Aching muscles - check

Sounds like me when I'm desperately searching for the last bottle of beer in the house. 

Or the last few sheets of toilet paper

Crabby

Having driven from Portugal, through Spain and France in the last few days, I'm amazed at the attitude of people here in the UK. Hopefully this complacency isn't misplaced.

Sea_Shell

Crabby said:

Having driven from Portugal, through Spain and France in the last few days, I'm amazed at the attitude of people here in the UK. Hopefully this complacency isn't misplaced.

Let's hope you haven't brought back any souvenirs with you!!