Enter 2023

 

All the best in 2023 and good health.

In the stock world, the US S&P 500 ended about 20% down and ranked with the 2008 market crisis for that year. I don't own US stocks currently, only indirectly thru Canadian ETF/Funds. 

In Canada, with Toronto's TSX ... our Canadian market fared better being down about 8% for the year.

There's lots of fear, doom and gloom in the news. However, I find it a good time for bargain shopping with the Stocks with lower prices then in an "up" Market while looking at a stock and wondering if it has peaked and expensive compared to the norm fluctuations. Buying at that time would probably sets me up for a loss when markets take a tumble and the stock price falls.

My main interest is in companies and banks that can handle the cash dividends they pay out to holders but I try to avoid overpaying for their stock during a growing Bull market .. or what they call "overvalued" for the average price range over a certain time frame. It's not easy or near impossible to "time" the market moves.

I always think of the king investor, Warren Buffet and how he approaches these Bear markets like today.

Warren Buffett has advised investors not to succumb to fear, and to view periods of panic in financial markets as opportunities to scoop up bargains.

2023 is also the start of a new BTSX; 10 top dividend paying stocks to browse over and I'll add that to my next article. Top names in Banks, Telecom, Utilities, Energy and Insurance related.

Although, I'm watching the crypto scene from the sidelines after it tanked this year and will probably continue to create fear in that marketplace for awhile with the unrelenting news about the downfall of FTX and SBF's upcoming trial, starting next week. Won't be good for him but see if he pleads guilty or not. Meanwhile, coins that belong to investors continue to be shuffled around and out of his defunct sites. Insiders I assume but who knows. Millions worth so far.

I must say, I'm impressed with Bitcoin while it continues to hold around the mid to low 16,000 USD range so far. Impressive where I thought it would continue to fall and that could still happen but there's more going on with Bitcoin world wide then some bad actors with defunct exchanges. Eventually the smoke will clear from all this damage and it will be quiet again for awhile with a possible bump in BTC prices in the future along with ETH.

 

An Investing Letter

 

For 2022, an investor's Christmas will probably include the Grinch, robbing profits and gains out from under a Christmas tree full of stock ornaments they had from last year.

However, those that only hold stocks that pay a yield that didn't see dividends cut and some climb aren't too worried about the Grinch although most portfolios are down in value for now.

The Blogs I read on the right have many of the same stocks the I currently hold and on my Watchlist to buy in the months ahead. Top Canadian banks, utilities and oil related plus Telecoms are my main interests. Buying more with the cash dividends they produce at today's prices will bring about a higher portfolio value with future "up" cycles in the stock world. A form of compounding over time.

I like this letter to wrap up the year by John Heinzl who writes for the Globe and Mail on Tawcan's Blog.

Good advise and not only for the young but those new to investing of all ages. It's always a learning curve I find but avoiding "get rich quick" schemes and thinking long term is a good starting point.

A quote from that letter ...

Your portfolio is like a bar of soap, the more you touch it, the smaller it’ll get. Therefore, learn to be patient and let your money compound. Let your investing decisions be based on logic and reason, not on emotion and impulse. If you are patient and allow compounding – what Einstein referred to as the eighth wonder of the world – to take place, you will be richly rewarded.

Have a Merry Christmas and good fortune.