Various catastrophes have confronted humanity throughout history. Some of these crises were financial, such as the banking and currency crises, while others were economic, such as the debt and subprime mortgage crises. However, socioeconomic crises such as food shortages and high unemployment, as well as political and international crises like the present Ukraine-Russia war, are likely the ones we remember most vividly. While the immediate shock of the Ukraine-Russia crisis has mostly passed, there are a number of lessons to be learned from the current conflict.
In this blog, we’ll talk about how to plan your investments during a crisis to get the most out of the situation. This will prevent you from panicking and making rash investing decisions that you will come to regret later. We’ll tell you everything, but first, let’s take a look at how most investors respond in a crisis.
How Do Most Investors React To A Crisis?
Regardless of the sort of crisis, there is always a lot of noise about what’s going on, and this noise inevitably affects investors. Their natural reaction to a crisis is to panic and sell their equity assets, even if they are losing money. The choice to sell in a panic is often wrong, but it occurs frequently due to the overpowering dread of more losses.
However, even if you don’t make a panic sale during a crisis, finding good assets during these times might be difficult. High volatility in Equity markets and the possibility of a double-dip recession are two issues to be aware of while investing during a crisis.
What Effect Does War Have On Equity Markets?
War has a negative influence on almost all asset classes, sectors, and industries. Because war causes trade interruptions, sanctions, greater inflation, and tariffs, as well as a lack of raw resources, in this is the case. Many organizations’ equity share values might decline by 10% to 30% as a result of these issues combined.
Investment in equity market
Commodities such as wheat, cooking oil, nickel, natural gas, and petroleum, for example, have seen significant price increases during the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. This is due to the fact that both Russia and Ukraine sell these goods internationally, and the present war has caused severe supply interruptions.
However, historically, the influence of war or other crises on equity markets has been short-lived. Within a year or two of the markets reaching historic lows, there has been a major rebound. It’s because equity markets usually acclimatize to the new reality in a short period of time, and growth resumes soon after.
How To Choose Investments During A Crisis?
Any economic, geopolitical, or socioeconomic crisis provides several possibilities to increase your fortune. In reality, historical evidence reveals that, if investors chose their assets intelligently, moments of crisis may frequently help them create excess profits. The major reason for this is, of course, investor behavior in the face of a crisis.
Typically, when a crisis begins, investors seek to shift their investments to “safe” sectors, industries, and asset classes. Technology, utilities, consumer goods, and gold are among them. While such investments can assist to mitigate equity portfolio losses to some extent, there is no certainty that they will help to build wealth over time.
A few savvy investors may choose an alternative strategy: shorting stocks or index futures. A short-seller might profit from a drop in stock prices or a decline in indexes. Short-sellers borrow shares they don’t already own and sell them with the idea that they would be available for purchase at a cheaper price later. Short-selling transactions, on the other hand, are not as simple as purchasing and redeeming Mutual Fund units, so this method of profiting from dropping markets is not for everyone.
Where to Invest During Market Drawdowns?
You can invest in high-quality stocks that are offered at low values during a downturn in equity markets. During a crisis, you must examine the following crucial characteristics while selecting high-quality stocks:
1. Invest In Business That Provide Essential Goods and Services
Choosing stocks of companies that supply critical goods and services is usually a smart idea during times of crisis. This is because industries that deal with basic necessities such as soap, milk, medications, rice, and other necessities fare better during times of crisis. Individuals may be able to postpone purchases of other products or services, but this is not the case when it comes to necessities or everyday needs items.
2. Find Companies That Control Their Own Supply Chain
During times of war, supply chain interruptions are to be expected. As a result, it is natural for many companies to experience raw material shortages that have an influence on production. Companies that manage their own supply chain have a substantial advantage in these situations.
3. Choose Companies That Support Its Stakeholders
When investing amid a crisis, another issue to examine is how a company handles the interests of its stakeholders. It is an indication that a company’s financials are robust if it can extend extra credit or provide working capital loans to its suppliers, vendors, and distributors during a crisis.
4. Companies Positioned To Increase Market Share
You should invest in a company that operates in a high-demand industry and can fill supply chain gaps. During times of crisis, such a company could be able to gain more market share and establish itself as a premium brand by raising advertising spending.
Conclusion
The present conflict between Ukraine and Russia is not the first crisis to emerge, and we may expect others in the future. Ignoring the noise, behaving logically, and staying engaged for the long haul is the greatest strategy to survive these crises. Investors who remain calm during times of crisis not only increase their wealth over time but also have a better chance of winning large when markets recover. On the other hand, you can also register bitcoin wallet and invest in cryptocurrencies which will surely pay off over time.