Above, Hogarth’s famous satirical cartoon masterpiece; The Feast of Fools”.
My “significant other” – to borrow from “Del Boy” – tells me that I’m probably one of the most boring and predictable men she has come across. I reckon she’s right.
Every weekday I follow a pattern; after breakfast I begin my online perusal of what’s going on in the world and do some preliminary research. Then I check certain websites. I check the Met Office’s site to check on the weather for where I live. I then check my portfolio of shares via Google Finance.
When I checked out my watchlist today I saw a column of green but with one red in it. FYI – green indicates a rise; red indicates a fall.
Given the likely effects on the Israeli/US attack on Iran it is clear that the London market is not pricing in the effects of the looming oil and gas crisis. The UK is woefully unprepared for such and the restrictions and shortages will have a very severe downward effect on the London Stock Market.
Of my portfolio (which has been optimised to provide me with a secure and rising income) a large part is invested in a UK equity income growth investment trust. Although I state that this stock forms a large part of my portfolio, prudence suggests that it should form a larger share as most of my portfolio is made up of three stocks that are single companies with another company (Lloyds Bank) being a modest holding. Given that the very nature of an investment trust is to spread risk across a broad portfolio of shares, I should be holding a larger proportion of my equities in this trust rather than the other single company stocks. Thus it is I am keeping a close watch on the London stock market as I confidently predict that if current actions in the Persian Gulf continue; in the not so far distant future, the London stock market is going to see very sharp falls. This might be the point where I increase the number of shares I hold in this particular investment trust stock.
I will also (in the very near future) be looking to purchase tins of corned beef, tins of new potatoes and tins of mushy peas and baked beans!
Yes, this bears testimony to my “Significant Other’s” correct opinion that I’m probably one of the most boring and predictable men she has come across!
PS: A happy St. Patrick’s Day to my Irish readers!