Stock market prices: Stalking a bottom

Article Excerpt

The Dow’s recent plunge may be the climax of a panic reaction that assumed the absolute worst for the economy. If governments around the world were doing nothing to counter the credit crisis — or, worse, doing all the wrong things as governments did in the 1930s — then the crisis could get a lot worse. My view is that governments are taking the kind of steps that will contain the crisis and eventually restore liquidity in the banking system. Stock market prices may be near the bottom. However, it’s only possible to spot market reversals in hindsight, so it’s too early to declare a lasting upturn. Even if we have seen the bottom, markets are apt to remain volatile and some stocks are bound to go to lower. That’s why investors should continue to follow our three-part investment approach: invest mainly in wellestablished companies, spread your money out across the five main economic sectors, and downplay investments in the broker/media limelight. As well,…