Is the stock market ever going to recover?

[trent]

With the new US president the markets might rally for a month or two, but after that the downward pressure will resume. This rally will be one of the last opportunities to get out of the general stock markets and minimize losses in my opinion.

[Steven]

I think that 2009 will be better for stock markets in general, as it looks like the credit crisis is abating. The markets may be in for some more pain, but after that they'll rise.

[bullish]

Originally Posted by Jason

I'm not that optimistic anymore as bullish is. My portfolio is down significantly, and now I think twice before investing my hard-earned cash.

The time to invest is when everybody is despaired and the news is all gloom and doom.

[Rickson9]

Originally Posted by bullish

The time to invest is when everybody is despaired and the news is all gloom and doom.

I strongly agree. I haven't bought in awhile since the spring, but crashes are really really good times to deploy capital.

[FinancialGuy]

Originally Posted by Rickson9

I strongly agree. I haven't bought in awhile since the spring, but crashes are really really good times to deploy capital.

Yeah but where have you been the last six months???
Did you buy in the spring and have you enjoyed the ride until now?

[Rickson9]

Originally Posted by FinancialGuy

Yeah but where have you been the last six months???
Did you buy in the spring and have you enjoyed the ride until now?

Correct. The last 6 months have been spent watching the prices rise on all our accounts. TFSA up 39.0% YTD, RRSP up 20.6% YTD and non-registered accounts up 27.1% YTD. Although satisfying, our returns pale in comparison to the market in 2009:
NASDAQ +30.0%
S&P/TSX +28.7%
S&P500 +17.5%
DOW +11.1%