Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of March 7, 2022

Article Excerpt

As expected, the war in Europe is rattling investors, and the media are milking it for attention from readers, viewers and, indirectly, advertisers. Needless to say, they are doing so the old-fashioned way—accentuating the negative. That was easier to do before the Russians invaded. Now it seems that the invasion is proving costlier and more problematic than many observers (especially the Russians) expected. What’s more, even assuming the Russians subdue Ukraine, it may prove even more costly to keep it subdued, let alone occupy the country. I’d say investors should take a neutral view of the impact that the invasion will have on the stock market in the next few years. The situation may rattle the market and the world economy for some time. However, unsuccessful wars, coupled with higher consumer costs, lower personal incomes and a scarcity of treasured consumer goods in stores, do not build loyalty to the regime that brought on these misfortunes. It may be that this represents…