A few weeks ago, you might have heard experts saying markets were in party mode, fuelled by a cocktail of accelerating global growth, strong earnings and low inflation.
Now, they say this was an accident waiting to happen as central banks take away the punchbowl of low interest rates. Well, which is it?
The point is there are any number of reasons markets may rise or fall on a given day.
It may be fun to speculate about the drivers, but ultimately it makes little difference if you are a long-term investor. And reacting impulsively to daily market movements is almost always counterproductive.
Increasing market volatility is essentially an expression of uncertainty.
Markets move on new information which is incorporated into prices immediately.
Those prices reflect the aggregate views of millions of participants, so unless you have information that no-one else is privy to, you are unlikely to get an edge by trying to time your entry and exit points.
What matters for individual investors is whether they are on track to meet their own long-term goals detailed in the plan designed for them.
Unless you need the money next week, what happens on any day is neither here nor there. It is the long-term returns that count.
As to what happens next, no one knows for sure. That is the nature of risk.
In the meantime, you can protect yourself against volatility by diversifying broadly across and within asset classes, while focusing on what they can control – including your own behaviour.
For those still anxious, here are seven simple lessons to help you live with volatility:
1. Don't make presumptions
Remember that markets are unpredictable and do not always react the way the experts predict they will. For instance, you'll see economists on the TV every night talking about what might happen when Europe or Japan eventually raise interest rates. But even if you could pick the turn, you still don't know how markets will react. It's pointless to speculate.
2. Someone is buying
Quitting the equity market when prices are falling is like running away from a sale. When prices fall to reflect higher risk, that's another way of saying expected returns are higher. And while the media headlines proclaim that "investors are dumping stocks", remember someone is buying them. Those people are often the long-term investors.
3. Market timing is hard.
Recoveries can come just as quickly and just as violently as the prior correction. In 2008, the Australian share market fell by nearly 40 per cent. Some investors capitulated, only to see the market bounce by more than 37 per cent in 2009 and rise in seven of the eight subsequent years. The lesson is that attempts at market timing risk turning paper losses into real ones and paying for the risk without waiting around for the recovery.
4. Never forget the power of diversification.
When equity markets turn rocky, other assets like highly rated government bonds can flourish. This limits the damage to balanced fund investors. So, diversification spreads risk and can lessen the bumps in the road.
5. Markets and economies are different things
The world economy is forever changing, and new forces are replacing old ones. This applies both between and within economies. For instance, falling oil prices can be bad for the energy sector, but good for consumers. New economic forces are emerging as global measures of poverty, education and health improve.
6. Nothing lasts forever
Just as smart investors temper their enthusiasm in booms, they keep a reserve of optimism during busts. And just as loading up on risk when prices are high can leave you exposed to a correction, dumping risk altogether when prices are low means you can miss the turn when it comes. As always in life, moderation is a good policy.
7. Discipline is rewarded
Market volatility can be worrisome, no doubt. The feelings generated are completely understandable. But through discipline, diversification, keeping focused on progress to your goals and accepting how markets work, the ride can be more bearable. At some point, value re-emerges, risk appetites re-awaken and for those who acknowledged their emotions without acting on them, relief replaces anxiety.
• Nick Stewart is an authorised financial adviser and executive director of Stewart Financial Group. Stewart Group is a Hawke's Bay-owned and operated independent financial planning firm based in Hastings. This represents general information only. Before making any financial or investment decisions, we recommend you consult a financial planner to consider your investment objectives, financial situation, and individual needs. A disclosure statement can be obtained free of charge by calling 0800 878 961.
