Falling markets are hard to endure. But markets like we're seeing right now, where stocks seem to drop sharply one day only to rebound strongly the next, can be even more frustrating. In order to survive the ups and downs, you have to do two things: develop your own view of where the economy and the financial markets are going, and stick with it even when the market seems to be telling you that you're wrong.
On again, off again
On a day like yesterday, on which the Dow jumped 275 points to vault back over the 10,000 level yet again, everyone seemed to focus on the good news in the market. State Street's
Yet in the topsy-turvy world, a single day's gains can turn around on a dime. Only a week ago, the Dow fell below 10,000 as investors seemed focused on international concerns. Fears that China's strong growth might fall off in the future sent stocks reeling, with Alcoa
Of course, the net effect of those two days turned out to be just about nothing; yesterday's rise canceled out last week's drop. But if you paid too much attention to the news of the day, you might feel like you've been stuck on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
Staying the course
To get off that roller coaster, you need your own hypothesis about the big picture for the economy and the impact it's having on companies. New economic data comes in every day, and as earnings season ramps up, you'll get constant feedback about how businesses are adapting to changing economic conditions. But while traders throughout the market often respond in kneejerk reaction to a single piece of new information, the advantage you have is that you don't have to.
In fact, the market's irrational weaving back and forth gives you constant opportunities, if you have the strength of conviction to follow through on your beliefs in the face of contrary information. You can use what seems like short-term bad news as a chance to get a cheap entry point for a stock you believe is a promising long-term play. For instance, Disney
Of course, if you start seeing a lot of news that runs counter to your beliefs, then you need to reevaluate. You want your hypothesis to be firm and well-supported, but being stubborn when things go against you will just cost you money.
Know yourself
You may find, however, that you simply can't roll with all the punches you get on a daily basis. That doesn't mean you can't be a good investor. It just means you need to use a slightly different strategy.
If all the noise distracts you from investing for the long term, then turn it off. Focus solely on the stocks you own and the fundamentals of those companies. That way, you won't let a brief setback pull you out of a great stock.
Here's an example: Back in May, two analysts downgraded Netflix
The path to success
Wildly swinging markets are tough for investors. But they also present great opportunities. If you can keep an even keel and build a strategy you can stick with, you'll be able to turn those ups and downs to your advantage.
Even with the stock market down in 2010, there's still hope. Alex Dumortier shows you how to salvage your portfolio with three stocks and three ETFs.
