What do you do if markets fall a further 30%?

I don't understand whether things are cheap or have now corrected to fair value. Why do you think they are cheap?

Ah I see. But didn't Japan crash by 75% and then sit there for a decade?

Japan's a basket case?

There isn't one.

Fairly sure the biscuit market is saturated.

Interested in watching how this works out for you.

I can't remember if this allows us to conclude you're an evil capitalist pig or not

Luther wrote:

Isn't it just predicated on the theory that over time stock always go up?

Pretty much, but it's also taking advantage of when they go down. There's always things on the horizon to have in the back of your mind. How much further can oil prices drop? Maybe I'll take a look at Russia next year or maybe not. Iran is also looking tempting. The point is not to buy when everyone else is and be brave when nobody else is, but it's a long game. If you're buying stuff you're selling a year later you're doing it wrong.

I worked in it briefly and it paid for a flat and enough cash to seriously invest in it for pension pot. Aside from that I do infrequent, shitty jobs that I quite enjoy with zero responsibility.

The Chinese govt intervention is weird as isn't the whole economy in China based on heavy handed govt involvement?

It's like the govt got them to the point where the shares and shit are worth something but when it goes wrong the market should then 'fix' it.

Roujin wrote:

Recent events are doing nothing to change my mind that the people in charge haven't got an actual clue and just behave with herd mentality on any change in the market. These are the same experts who didn't see the 2008 crash coming and couldn't spot the problems in the Chinese market either until it all went to plop, at which point instead of allowing the market to correct, the Chinese gov step to help artificially stabilise things. How is this even a system in the 21st century that people think is a suitable means of investment for the worlds pension funds and other huge sums of cash?

Aye. Never thought that the quotes about paying top dollar and bonuses to keep the talent in the UK held much water. That's the same "talent" that behaved like greedy sheep and gambled away all our money you mean? We could do without that - they can fuck off. 

Like any industry there's a small percentage that knows what it's doing and it depends if they are made up of self serving greedy pricks or those who believe that the wealthy have a duty to maintain a decent way of life in the wider community in general.

Come the revolution you'll be first against the wall.

I'll probably be somewhere in the queue behind you like.

Basically yes. QE money sloshing around has to go somewhere, and it will end up in equities.

Didn't the Dax jump on talk of more QE from Dragi lately?

I have no money, but when I do, you're all to tell me something you do know about...

Well India did pretty well last year despite the naysayers, and should continue doing so over the next five years or so. For those who are curious I'd still recommend the Jupiter India fund - 12.69% last year building on from the 50% the year before. Remember you won't really know anything about the subject until you stick some money in and learn as you go. Cavendish still a good cheap place to start. 

It's good to set up a new current account for this purpose (it's this account you'll use exclusively when you set up bank details with your fund provider), so best to go for one with the best interest rates on small amounts. I think Jupiter India has a minimum investment of £500, and from there the best route is to transfer a set amount per month into the new current account and let it build up until there's a significant dip in the markets, and then throw the lot in. Keep up the monthly transfers and let it build again in the current account until the next dip and transfer it all into the fund until the next dip, and so on.