Liquidate entire portfolio until virus is over?

bargainhunter888

what are peoples thoughts on where this is headed and what will be key periods in which we could see movement?
Quarterly company reports?
US News?
UK Lockdown progress?
@Sailtheworld - i do have cash, but i keep on planning to invest, then not because of the reasons above, whilst 14% is still a gain to peak and historically, the index has been increasing to new highs every year, however as it's an ETF i'm mondful i need to put a decent amount in to make it worth while

Alistair31

bargainhunter888 said:

what are peoples thoughts on where this is headed and what will be key periods in which we could see movement?
Quarterly company reports?
US News?
UK Lockdown progress?
@Sailtheworld - i do have cash, but i keep on planning to invest, then not because of the reasons above, whilst 14% is still a gain to peak and historically, the index has been increasing to new highs every year, however as it's an ETF i'm mondful i need to put a decent amount in to make it worth while

Today’s oil price drop could be the canary in the coal mine...

or maybe not. 

Thrugelmir

Alistair31 said:

bargainhunter888 said:

what are peoples thoughts on where this is headed and what will be key periods in which we could see movement?
Quarterly company reports?
US News?
UK Lockdown progress?
@Sailtheworld - i do have cash, but i keep on planning to invest, then not because of the reasons above, whilst 14% is still a gain to peak and historically, the index has been increasing to new highs every year, however as it's an ETF i'm mondful i need to put a decent amount in to make it worth while

Today’s oil price drop could be the canary in the coal mine...

or maybe not. 

Cheap oil has it's benefits to some industries and economies. 

Username999

May CL1 contract now $3.04 / barrel.
CME has modified software to cater for negative price.

BananaRepublic

bargainhunter888 said:

what are peoples thoughts on where this is headed and what will be key periods in which we could see movement?
Quarterly company reports?
US News?
UK Lockdown progress?
@Sailtheworld - i do have cash, but i keep on planning to invest, then not because of the reasons above, whilst 14% is still a gain to peak and historically, the index has been increasing to new highs every year, however as it's an ETF i'm mondful i need to put a decent amount in to make it worth while

We are starting to see some European countries relaxing lockdown, and we will have to do the same otherwise we will have a wholesale collapse of many service industries. If the former happens, then we may see a soft landing albeit with one almighty hangover in the form of debt the following morning. If not, then may the Gods save us as cinemas, garden centres, garden centre suppliers, stables, hairdressers, estate agents etc will all go bust. 

On the bright side, some of the responses have been marvellous, showing the sort of spirit this country has. Long may that continue. Perhaps we will have a better attitude to quality of life and not pure profit. 

worldtraveller

CLOSING NUMBERS FROM YESTERDAY:

FTSE 100 @ 5,813 - DOWN 24% FROM PEAK

FTSE 250 @ 15,823 - DOWN 28% FROM PEAK

FTSE ALL SHARE @ 3,201 - DOWN 25% FROM PEAK

DOW JONES @ 23,650 - DOWN 20% FROM PEAK

NASDAQ @ 8,561 - DOWN 13% FROM PEAK

tel_

BananaRepublic said:

bargainhunter888 said:

what are peoples thoughts on where this is headed and what will be key periods in which we could see movement?
Quarterly company reports?
US News?
UK Lockdown progress?
@Sailtheworld - i do have cash, but i keep on planning to invest, then not because of the reasons above, whilst 14% is still a gain to peak and historically, the index has been increasing to new highs every year, however as it's an ETF i'm mondful i need to put a decent amount in to make it worth while

We are starting to see some European countries relaxing lockdown, and we will have to do the same otherwise we will have a wholesale collapse of many service industries. If the former happens, then we may see a soft landing albeit with one almighty hangover in the form of debt the following morning. If not, then may the Gods save us as cinemas, garden centres, garden centre suppliers, stables, hairdressers, estate agents etc will all go bust. 

On the bright side, some of the responses have been marvellous, showing the sort of spirit this country has. Long may that continue. Perhaps we will have a better attitude to quality of life and not pure profit. 

Our death and infection rates are still high, and when we do see a decline in these rates, it's likely to be very slow IMHO, so I very much doubt any kind of lift on a lockdown happening after 7 May.

You say companies may go bust if this lasts much longer, which they may do, but this is not a normal circumstance in which a business could collapse this time.

Surely a re-start-up scheme could be introduced, so these business can operate again, as demand for such services (even a possible explosion in demand in some sectors ) could happen again once a full lockdown is over?

ProDave

Surely a re-start-up scheme could be introduced, so these business can operate again, as demand for such services (even a possible explosion in demand in some sectors ) could happen again once a full lockdown is over?

So something like let them go bust and then re start with the same managers and workforce but free of debt?

I see landlords being a BIG looser if that were allowed to happen.

bostonerimus

ProDave said:

Surely a re-start-up scheme could be introduced, so these business can operate again, as demand for such services (even a possible explosion in demand in some sectors ) could happen again once a full lockdown is over?

So something like let them go bust and then re start with the same managers and workforce but free of debt?

I see landlords being a BIG looser if that were allowed to happen.

Landlords with mortgages and unsympathetic lenders could have a tough time if renters are unable to pay and if rents collapse post Covid 19. I'm glad I paid off the mortgage on my rental a long time ago now that my renters are having a hard time coming up with the rent because it isn't very painful for me to give them a rent holiday. I don't get the money, but I do get the satisfaction of doing something to help out in this tough time.

Thrugelmir

Even if lenders were sympathetic doesn't change the underlying issue of leverage. Leverage magnifies returns and compounds losses. The attitude to risk has become highly complacent over recent decades. Property letting was once in the main of the preserve of the capital rich. The ability to access cheap credit being a major factor with no experience for many of a recessionary period. Going to many squeals of anguish and complaints of a lack of support. As you did. Should have paid down debt rather than expanding empires during the good times.