Covid crash #2 started

ProDave

FTSE100 (just as an example) now quickly falling, following a period of slowly falling.

Why didn't I follow my gut feeling a week ago and put my pension funds back into cash?  Probably too late now to miss all of the fall?

Cus

It's not too late, go on, sell it all.  

Linton

Why base your investment decisions on the FTSE100 - are you highly invested in the FTSE100? Look at the FTSE World Index: it has risen over the past 3 months.  Even the FTSE100 with income reinvested is only down about 5.5% in that time period.  Selling and later rebuying every time you see those sorts of changes is a good way to achieve low returns.

I think the current uncertainty in the markets is more to do with the US election than COVID.  Investors, particularly US investors, may well be holding off buying for a few days until the results are known.

Bravepants

If you look at the FTSE 100 index over the last 3 months, the trend is downward. But my Vanguard funds have been trending up over the same time period. FTSE 100 is a very rough/poor indicator of the global situation.

Anyway, someone else will be along in a minute to tell us all about how their cat has been rushed to kitty hospital.

ProDave

Bravepants said:

If you look at the FTSE 100 index over the last 3 months, the trend is downward. But my Vanguard funds have been trending up over the same time period. FTSE 100 is a very rough/poor indicator of the global situation.

Anyway, someone else will be along in a minute to tell us all about how their cat has been rushed to kitty hospital.

Yes my funds have been trending up since I went back from cash to funds in April and have done well,  but they are over the last week on a downward trend as as the FTSE100 fall steepens, that fall in the funds is also going to steepen.

csgohan4

timing the market is crystal ball time at best, there was a mini dip in Sep and earlier this month. I stopped trying to time the market, not worth the bother or stress. Put it all in an index tracker and let it grow over the years will make more money in the long run

Having said that, I'm going put some money in some of the fallers, fill your boots

Linton

ProDave said:

Bravepants said:

If you look at the FTSE 100 index over the last 3 months, the trend is downward. But my Vanguard funds have been trending up over the same time period. FTSE 100 is a very rough/poor indicator of the global situation.

Anyway, someone else will be along in a minute to tell us all about how their cat has been rushed to kitty hospital.

Yes my funds have been trending up since I went back from cash to funds in April and have done well,  but they are over the last week on a downward trend as as the FTSE100 fall steepens, that fall in the funds is also going to steepen.

A week isnt a trend.

Alexland

To be fair it's not just the UK market looking bad today but it doesn't bother me as investments going up and down is completely expected and it just means we should be getting better prices so more units for our end of month contributions. As a keen unit volume collector that's great.

Thrugelmir

Probably some profit taking going on. There's been some sizable gains in certain stocks since earlier in the year. Also a reality check that recovery isn't baked in as many investors seem to to have assumed over the summer. Change of season changes the mood. 

bowlhead99

I may takes some cash out of some non-equity positions ahead of next Tuesday's elections to be able to have a go 'timing the markets' this time next week if the election has a clear winner at that point. Though with postal ballots to be counted it could take a while.  I remember the Bush/ Gore Florida recounts 20 years back taking a month to resolve (was waiting for some bets to pay out), so it may not be plain sailing if the exit polling isn't conclusive and it takes a while to open and count all the mail while wearing PPE.

Alexland

bowlhead99 said:

Though with postal ballots to be counted it could take a while.

Especially with so many postal voters expected to change their vote in favour of Trump....