To helpless investors – A letter with 4 lessons
April 13, 2025
Dear helpless investor,
I am writing to check in on you. It has been a roller coaster week. Are you still intact despite all the ups and downs?
You must have been through a lot. Suddenly, you woke up to a disastrous free fall in the stock market. The next day there was a historic rebound. Then the following day another market plunge wiped out the gains.
As retail investors, we are at the mercy of a self-serving tyrant. Being bombarded endlessly with new tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, additional tariffs and paused tariffs. The “Liberation Day” served to liberate unconscionable politicians hurling offensive remarks at each other in the most undiplomatic way.
Like it or not, big market uncertainties are thrown in our face. The world is immediately under the threat of a global recession. As Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, Singapore may or may not enter a recession this year.
Helpless investors and helpless employees
Notwithstanding the sinking of stock prices, depreciation of currencies and heavy sell-off of all asset classes, did your portfolio survive the turmoil?
The tariff game has wiped out USD174 billion from the net worth of the world’s top ten billionaires. On average, the damage is USD17 billion per billionaire. Fortunately, as an ordinary investor, your loss should be negligible in comparison... read more