By MoneyMorning.com.au
Yes. We know it sounds crazy. But in a moment we’ll explain why the hot-shot traders on Wall Street, Collins Street and Martin Place aren’t the enemy.
In most cases they’re just like you and us… they’re trying to earn a crust (whether it’s an honest crust is an argument for another day).
We’ll explain all shortly. But as another week starts, what do we see but… another stuff-up.
The market goes back to doing what it has done for the past three years.
Just when the market had gotten all excited about the Greek bailout… whammo! The whole applecart gets upended.
As we drove off early last Friday morning for a few relaxing days with the family, we left thinking not much could happen.
As with our family holiday to Queensland a few weeks back we had no Internet access and didn’t watch the TV news.
So imagine our surprise when we came back to see that major trading firm, MF Global had gone into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection… and Greece had decided to hold a referendum on the Euro bailout package.
The phrase, “same old, same old” sprang to mind.
Backing Investors into a Corner
Knowing that something – anything – could be around the corner is what has us most on edge about investing in this market. Because think about it. Despite hours and days of meetings and resolutions… and hundreds or thousands of words printed in summit communiqués, what’s changed?
Over-leveraged trading firms are going bust… and governments are showing their true colours – they’re incapable of doing anything sensible.
Until that changes, we see no reason to recommend overexposing your portfolio to the stock market. Or any market for that matter.
Trouble is, for investors who are trying to make an honest buck, the options for low-risk investing are disappearing fast.
Because whilst things like the RBA interest rate cut might help some, it will certainly harm others.