Forum Archive Index - March 2003

[Robin Benson <rob@hammerheadmedia.co.uk>]

No doubt that great sell-offs and buy-backs create significant income for those with a slice of the action. It's in their best interests, therefore, to talk things down and then  walk them back up again.

That said, there must be a significant percentage of investors who are simply spooked by the uncertainty of war and what follows, as well as the overwhelming negativity surrounding key indicators around the world, espectially in the US, who will have sold down their holdings to some extent.

Of course, to those who believe that there are companies who actually earn hard currency despite global conditions, it represents an opportunity to stock up. Those engaged in pure speculation (albeit educated speculation in some cases) will have their eyes on (possibly more than looking) a number of stocks that they think will be back in favour following the current misery.

Bottom line: volatility and everything that goes with it. Investing now, in strong companies that are well-placed to weather stormy seas, will be buying on the cheap.

Lastly, I don't see this as a forum for slagging people off. It always struck me as distinct from sharetrader.co.nz -- not to say that there isn't some good info/discussion there from time to time, but the SNR is pretty low -- in this regard.

So please don't take this as flack ...

Robin

On Sunday, Mar 16, 2003, at 00:35 Europe/London, Duncan MacGregor wrote:

> We live in a time of great opportunity, the market is at rock bottom or almost there.   My portfolio is down a bit but not nearly as bad as the market.  Macdunk is buying into essential services POA.  AIA. POT. and waiting on PWC to hit rock bottom, to buy into that.  We investors need bad times in order to have great times.  the big trick is minimizing the losses when the panic sets, in or other words hold your position until your lot climb back to square one.  The threat of war is on, people are holding back, the time is now in my opinion to invest.  The dollar is to high, which is killing farm related investments we also have the threat of an oil crisis which it would be foolish to ignore.  The companies I am interested in are longer term investments  I really don't see the quick buck in anything, the market is dead.    Its funny how MR MARKET gets depressed, then will suddenly turn round and run in the opposite direction so this time I am going to get in stick my money where my mouth is.   the war only panics the people that wont take advantage anyway.   My way of thinking is invest into good solid companies, don't clutch at straws and the time is now to invest. I really don't think it matters what sort of investing system a person has in times like this, It all boils down to selecting the safe investments and holding on.   I expect the market to soar after the first shots are fired ( any day now), and the moment its over to go into bull mode. To all the financiers and advisors that have told us to invest in lots of companies overseas and everywhere and spread the risk I thought you were idiots then, and convinced of it now. That is my opinion and I am big enough to withstand a bit of flak so dont hold back.  We still dont have people giving real opinions of tomorrows markets, which disappoints me, thats what its all about in my book, we after all devise our own buying and selling systems, but in the end its tomorrow that counts.