Are you planning invest in the equity markets now?

24 OCT, 2010, 07.09AM IST, VIKAS AGARWAL,ET BUREAU
Are you planning invest in the equity markets now?


The domestic stock markets have had a dream run this year. Good returns have increased the enthusiasm and risk appetite of investors. Strong inflows from foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remain the key factor behind the bullish sentiments in the market. Investments from domestic institutions and individual investors have also increased. 

The recent over-subscription of the Coal India IPO is a classic example of positive investor sentiments in the markets. The market undertone is quite bullish at the moment and this is reflected in the strong bounce-back after every minor correction. Analysts believe the markets are consolidating at the current levels before taking to newer highs in the short to medium terms. 

The important factors to track are the movements of FII funds and sentiments in the global markets. The markets may have a deeper correction triggered by negative sentiments in the global markets. In general, individual investors should stick to the strategy of 'buy on dips'. Investors should identify favourably-placed sectors in the current economic conditions and invest in selected fundamentallygood stocks. 

These are some of the important points investors should keep in mind while investing in the markets: 

Strategies for primary market investments 

The primary market is attractive with many IPOs listing with attractive gains. However, individual investors should invest only their risk capital in IPOs. It is not recommended to borrow money and invest in IPOs for the sake of listing gains. 

The introduction of ASBA (application supported by block amount) makes investments in IPOs more attractive as the money does not get debited from the investors' account at the time of application. It just gets blocked. The money is debited from the investor's account only at the time of allotment and meanwhile the investor keeps earning interest on this blocked amount. Also, it avoids the hassles of tracking refunds. However, the ASBA scheme is applicable only if the investor applies to an IPO through the bank's e-filing route. 

Strategies for secondary market investments 

The stock markets are close to their all-time high and consolidating over the last couple of weeks. There is strong buying support at the lower price levels and some profit booking at the higher levels. A deeper correction cannot be ruled out as the markets have moved in a single direction over the last couple of months. 

Some analysts believe the markets may go through many small corrections rather than a significant deep correction. Therefore, it is advisable to stay invested in the markets and play safe by booking profits at regular intervals. A periodic review of the portfolio based on the current macroeconomic and business conditions, and quarterly results is needed. Investors should take necessary steps and make the required adjustments in their portfolios based on the macroeconomic conditions and company results. 

Investors looking at investing fresh money in equity should first identify the stocks and invest in small lots to average out the entry price. Since it is not possible to time the markets, it is advisable to stagger investments by buying in smaller lots at regular intervals. Small investors should invest in large-cap stocks and selected mid-cap stocks that have good liquidity. It is advisable for investors to invest only their risk capital in equity, and track the market movements and developments related to stocks of their interest regularly. Equity mutual funds are a good alternative for investors who do not have enough knowledge about the markets.




http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/financial-times/Are-you-planning-invest-in-the-equity-markets-now/articleshow/6798783.cms

The Bull Run may continue for quite some time but has become more vulnerable to a correction.

Time and time again, some investors have been forced to sell on the cheap when they read reports that there would be tightening in lending, plans to withdraw stimulus measures as well as valuations being overstretched.

Time and time again, some of them sell during a correction only to be caught flat-footed when a rebound occurs almost immediately.  For example, they bought into a stock at $1, rode the bull market to $1.20 and sold at $1.10 when there was a correction.  The share price immediately shot up to $1.15 before they even knew what happened and missed the next wave to $1.30.  While some of them would have given up on this stock, there are others who jump back in at $1.30 only to sell it at $1.20 during the next correction.

They are scared, so they sell.  This is human nature and there is nothing we can do about it unless we can stand firm and not sell if we are able to identify that we are in the midst of a Bull Run, so selling out for a small profit is never an option.

Yes, the Bull Run is still very much alive but has stalled after a spectacular rally from March.

Much of the easy money has been made and the investors are now treading in treacherous territory where the chances of a correction are high, especially when most people are sure that growth in 2010 will be sluggish.

Even US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has admitted that 2010 will not be a wonderful year.  This has made investors sit up and rethink their strategy with some choosing to take profit or continue staying on the sideline until the clouds clear.

With several uncertainties still looming, it is no wonder that investors refuse to chase the rally preferring to sell every time the rally reaches a fresh recent high.  However, they have to remember that they are still in a Bull Run that may continue for quite some time but has become more vulnerable to a correction - in particular a correction that has to be as deep as 10% - when economic fundamentals in the first quarter of 2010 cannot support the rally.

Share Investment
Issue 372
14/12/09 - 27/12/09
www.sharesinv.com

Read:

BELIEVING A BULL MARKET

and also:

THRIVING IN EVERY MARKET
Value Investing Made Easy (Janet Lowe):

1. THRIVING IN EVERY MARKET
2. MR. MARKET
3. SUITABLE SECURITIES AT SUITABLE PRICES
4. PAYING RESPECT TO THE MARKET
5. TIMING VERSUS PRICING
6. BELIEVING A BULL MARKET
7. THE PAUSE AT THE TOP OF THE ROLLER COASTER
8. MAKING FRIENDS WITH A BEAR
9. BARGAINS AT THE BOTTOM
10. SIGNS AT THE BOTTOM
11. BUYING TIME
12. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST PLAY THE HORSES

Another telling statistics on Market Timing: Missing the chance to run with the bulls

Great Timing versus Lousy Timing
(Performance difference = 1.6% difference)

Investment returns from 1970 to 1995

Starting in 1970, if you were unlucky and invested $2,000 at the peak day of the market in each successive year, your annual return was 8.5%.

If you timed the market perfectly and invested your $2,000 at the low point in the market in each successive year, your annual return was 10.1%. 

So the difference between great timing and lousy timing is 1.6%.

Of course, you'd like to be lucky and make that extra 1.1%, but you'll do just fine with lousy timing, as long as you stay invested in stocks.  Buy shaes in good companies and hold on to them through thick and thin. 

There's an easy solution to the problem of bear markets.  Set up a schedule of buying stocks or stock mutual funds so you're putting in a small amount of money every month, or four months, or six months.  This will remove you from the drama of the bulls and bears.


Missing the chance to run with the bulls

One of the worst mistakes you can make is to switch into and out of stocks or stock mutual funds, hoping to avoid the upcoming correction.  It's also a mistake to sit on your cash and wait for the upcoming correction before you invest in stocks.  In trying to time the market to sidestep the bears, people often miss out on the chance to run with the bulls.

A review of the S&P 500 going back to 1954 shows how expensive it is to be out of stocks during the short stretches when they make their biggest jumps. 

• If you kept all your money in stocks throughout these four decades, your annual return on investment was 11.5%. 
• Yet if you were out of stocks for the fourty most profitable months during these fourty years, your return on investment dropped to 2.7%..