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888 Holdings (LSE:888) and Just Eat Takeaway (LSE:JET) test body copy

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Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Just Eat Takeaway.com. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

One of Saxo’s leading market analysts, Jessica Amir, has highlighted five stocks to watch next week based on timely newsflow.

McDonald’s

“Recession-stalwart McDonald’s has been outperforming the market this year, as it typically does in tough markets. McDonald’s reported stronger quarterly sales than the market expected, showing its somewhat defying inflationary pressures. McDonald’s put its strong sales down to the McRib burger. With the CEO saying it’s the “the greatest of all time” seller and the McRib to soon be available in the UK for Halloween, being released on October 31. That’s something to sink your teeth into.”

Boeing

“Boeing shares have underperformed this year, falling 33%, however, the question is, could its business be turning around? The company released a bullish 20-year forecast for China’s commercial jet market, saying China will need to double its fleet in two decades with Boeing saying China will be a major driver of its sales. Boeing sees China needing almost 8,500 new passenger and freighter planes valued at $1.5 trillion through 2041. So that’s something to think about.”

Macquarie Group

“Macquarie Group is Australia’s biggest investment bank and reported profit results that beat market forecasts, with market volatility buoying its commodities and global market trading businesses. Macquarie’s net income for the half year rose to A$2.31 billion up from A$2 billion in the prior year. That also beat the forecast, so its shares rose as a result. But here is something to consider; when commodity and market volatility picks up, we typically see financial trading businesses benefit. So, it could be worth keeping an eye on Macquarie.”

Computershare

“Computershare is a share registry business, which you may have heard of if you’ve ever bought or sold shares. You may have received their statements in the mail, for share purchase plans perhaps. Computershare shares have been outperforming the market, they are up 21% this year. Businesses like Computershare also are highly leveraged to rising interest rates, meaning, their earnings typically rise when interest rates do. In 2022, consensus (or the market) upgraded Computershare’s 2023 earnings by 42%, but Bloomberg is even more optimistic, expecting more earnings upside.”

Marathon Oil

“Marathon Oil (MAR) is one of the best performing stocks in the US this year, trading up 87%. It’s due to report financial results in November. It’s also worth noting that our chief commodity strategist Ole Hansen has been expecting oil margins to rise again, given the oil price is moving up, with the oil market in tight supply and worried about the escalating prices of fuel in the northern hemisphere winter. So that means, oil companies like Marathon could continue to gain momentum.”

Please note that you’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool UK’s Premium Investing Services.

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Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

One of Saxo’s leading market analysts, Jessica Amir, has highlighted five stocks to watch this week based on timely newsflow.

Rivian

“EV maker Rivian is recalling 13,000 vehicles it delivered to customers, that’s nearly all the vehicles it sold. It comes as the company found a minor structural defect. Even though Rivian says the issue was discovered in seven vehicles, it recalled all out of caution.”

JPMorgan

“JPMorgan is the 14th biggest US stock among the S&500. It’s due to report third-quarter financial quarter results in the second week of October along with Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. The two key things to watch with banks are their net interest margin and if that’s improving or weakening. Secondly, keep an eye on the quality of the banks’ loan books – and if they’ve deteriorated or improved.”

Fortescue Future Industries

“Fortescue Future Industries, teamed up with fellow ASX-listed company Incitec Pivot (IPL) to convert IPL’s ammonia facility into a hydrogen electrolysis hub. A Final Investment Decision is not expected to be made until 2023. However, it is hoped the hub will produce green ammonia, which can be exported, used in fertilizer, or used as a low-carbon fuel source for heavy transport, airports, and ports.”

Marathon Oil

“Marathon Oil is also one of the best performers in the S&P500 so far this month, up 20%. Marathon Oil along with many oil and gas producers have been rallying this month following the Oil price (West Texas Intermediate) moving up 16% in 11 days. It comes as OPEC+ agreed to reduce oil output by 2 million barrels a day from November. So the market is once again dealing with supply fears in the oil market.”

Dexcom

“Dexcom is so far the best performing stock in the S&P500 this month up 24% after announcing its newest glucose wearable device, Dexcom G7 is available globally, to those with diabetes aged 2 years and over. The wearable device is now selling in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Hong Kong, with launches to take place soon in New Zealand and South Africa.”

Please note that you’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool UK’s Premium Investing Services.

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Today, I read an article entitled “Bank of England’s warning pension help to end worries investors“.

While I understand and agree with the premise, I questioned the last word in that headline.

I’d argue that the word ‘investors’ ought to be replaced by ‘traders’.

Let me share why.

You say investor, I say trader

The words may be different in length by two characters, but for me they’re worlds apart.

When stock indices are spooked, gripped with fear, or described by other Halloween-y adjectives, often news outlets will refer to the market movers as investors.

As a short hand, that’s fair enough perhaps.

But everyone has a hill that they’d die on, so to speak. And mine is that it’s in fact traders who move the markets on a daily basis.

You see, the buying and selling of shares by professionals working for investment banks, hedge funds and the like — and, let’s not forget, purchases or sales triggered by computer algorithms! — comprises the vast majority of daily trading in stock markets.

But don’t call the whole thing off!

About a year ago, data from Bloomberg showed that almost 25% of the total equities trading volume came from retail investors. That’s you and I, Fools. Especially when compartmentalised in to the even more niche long-term, buy-and-hold retail investor bucket!

Just 12 months earlier, that was five percentage points lower, at 20%. And for the decade before that, the figure hovered around 10-15%.

So what have we established?

That around three quarters of trading is conducted by professional institutional or high-net-worth traders, sure.

Which I hope underlines my point about how significant changes in stock markets and share prices come from traders rather than long-term investors.

Yet we’ve also been shown that increasing numbers are turning to stock-picking to help improve their financial situations.

And as a Fool (upper-case, as always!), that delights me. Because it’s not hard to see that with inflation soaring and interest rates still lagging behind, unfortunately we’d likely be losing money if stored in a savings account.

But through investing — both capital appreciation and collecting dividends — it’s possible for ordinary folk like us to make our money work harder for us, and better prepare us for the future.

And next time you see a headline that suggests investors are running scared amidst the current conditions… Well, I hope you take that with a pinch of salt.

Because a true Fool knows that the best time to buy shares is now — whatever else is going on. And that investing consistently through both bull and bear markets makes sense.

If you take one thing away from this article, please let it be this. Time in the market is a better strategy than trying to time the market. There’s a reason it’s often referred to as the ‘golden rule of investing’!

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When we ran a Twitter poll a little while back, I was intrigued to find out the percentages around respondents’ longest holding period.

In other words, have many of our followers truly committed to The Motley Fool’s philosophy of buy-and-hold investing?

The results are in

Here at the Fool, we strive for a minimum holding period of three to five years. But, to paraphrase the great Warren Buffett, our favourite holding period really is “forever“.

I would have been disappointed to see ‘Under a year’ get any significant traction, if I’m honest. Because, unless you’re a very new investor, then this suggests an element of trading.

By trading, I’m referring to buying and selling in quick succession. Many might think this is a fast-track method to “making a quick buck”. However, a lot of the time it can be hugely speculative.

That’s because most traders aren’t buying the stock based on the company’s fundamentals, but rather due to ‘noise’ surrounding its promise.

And, simply put, you can’t qualify noise, can you?

Additionally, we Fools are acutely aware that in the majority of cases, it costs extra money to buy and sell shares. I’m talking stamp duty, commission, etc.

So when you’re trading — again, frequently buying and selling positions — you’re inevitably incurring a lot more money than when you’re selective and only buy shares in companies that you’re willing to keep in your portfolio for many years.

To circle back to the start of this post, it’s pleasing to see a third of respondents answer with a very Foolish three to 10 years.

Even more so to see the second most popular holding period being 10+ years!

Personally, I’m a little shy of that decade marker with the shares in my portfolio that I’ve held the longest.

But, like a true Fool, I’m trusting in the investment case for the stocks I still believe in, and continue to hold throughout this market turbulence.

And I’ll definitely be ‘starting from day one’ with a few new additions soon. Complete with a Buffett-esque view to keeping them forever!

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Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Twitter. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

One of Saxo’s leading market analysts, Jessica Amir, has highlighted five stocks to watch this week based on timely newsflow.

Tesco

“Tesco is due to release financial results in the first week of October, while also kicking off a huge half-price toy sale in a bid to boost its performance. Tesco shares are trading at four-year lows.”

Constellation Brands

“Constellation Brands produces beers, wines and spirits. Some brands you might know of include Corona. The company is due to report results in the first week of October. And its shares have been outperforming the market this year.”

CSL

“CSL (Commonwealth Serum Laboratories) is one of the world’s biggest producers of influenza vaccines. The thinking is CSL’s revenue could pick up as flu vaccine demand is likely to rise ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter.”

IAG

“Another stock to watch is IAG (Insurance Australia Group). IAG is Australia’s largest insurance group and is expected to continue doing well in the market, with the Reserve Bank of Australia set to raise interest rates in the first week of October, which will likely continue to rise into next year. IAG shares are also outperforming the market; they’re up 6% this year.”

Rio Tinto

“Rio Tinto just started producing spodumene concentrate for lithium batteries at its facility in Canada. Rio is also one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore (SCOA) and aluminium. And last week, aluminium prices saw their biggest jump on record on potential supply fears.”

Please note that you’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool UK’s Premium Investing Services.

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Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Constellation Brands and Tesco. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

With the confirmation of a 10th bank holiday in the UK this year, many investors might be wondering whether the stock market will be trading on the day of the late Queen’s funeral.

On Saturday, during the meeting of the Accession Council at St James’s Palace, King Charles III approved the requests to appoint the day of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral as a bank holiday in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, as well as Scotland.

The London Stock Exchange has stated in the past that it recognises all UK bank holidays. As such, investors ought to expect the stock market to be closed next Monday.

The Exchange recognises the Public and Bank Holidays of England and Wales.

London Stock Exchange

It remains unlikely that 19 September 2023, and future years, will become annual bank holidays since there is not a precedent for this occurring following similar state funerals in the past.

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Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Equally important, though, is to take a step back and assess whether external influences have pushed us towards certain decisions in relation to our investments. And contrary to what you could be thinking, Saxo Markets‘ CEO Charles White-Thomson believes conditioning — or learned association — isn’t always a negative.

Over to Charles:

In financial markets, the potential danger of conditioning is an important subject we, as an investment platform, have sought to draw attention to. Over the past two years, there has been a surge in interest from retail investors looking to make returns on their portfolios. However, with increasing participation has been a rise in firms trying to capture novice investors’ capital by luring them to use their products or invest in certain assets. Companies have been quick to vie for attention, enlisting famous faces for endorsements to lend credibility and evoke feelings of aspiration and security. The role of influencers, including Kim Kardashian, has rightly drawn the attention of regulators.

Here at TMF, we believe that the person best positioned to take care of your financial future is you. It’s also extremely important to have read a wealth of information about a company before deciding whether to buy shares in its business or not. Many investors have heard stories about someone who had received a stock tip from a stranger in a pub, only to see their investment plummet having put their hard-earned money into it. This is foolish behaviour. Whereas being Foolish means being learned and having confidence bred from thorough background research in a business.

Charles continues:

Those that seek to influence – whether that be YouTubers, celebrities or even traditionally revered institutions like the Federal Reserve – do so based on their experience of the past rather than knowledge of the future. Decisions should be informed by considered research and the core academic principles of proper risk management and diversification.

Again, I can’t help but agree. There’s not a single celebrity that I’d trust enough to buy equities based on a few words from them. Even short, free-to-read articles aren’t enough to base investment decisions off. Not even these editorial posts Fool.co.uk, written by our contractors, musing on their own portfolios! That’s because c.500 words still isn’t enough to be well informed about all the intricacies of complicated businesses. It’s also why we offer time-poor investors access to services like Share Advisor, with full-time analysts doing the legwork.

A critical message for investors, new and experienced, is that successful investing is not just about managing your actual capital or money, it is about protecting your emotions or mental capital. It is not necessarily a bad thing to be one of Pavlov’s dogs, the key however is to recognise and be aware of influence – knowing the bellringers – but also to always be critical of the information presented to you. Behind the Hollywood smile presenting the latest market opportunity is a sophisticated and potentially risky instrument that could have a real-world impact on your savings. Do not be distracted – there is no substitute for thought and due diligence. 

Charles White-Thomson, Saxo Markets

We at The Motley Fool still aim to make the world richer (as well as smarter and happier). And a big part of that is helping investors understand that wealth can be created by spending a long time in the market, having bought and held shares in quality companies. Not selling at the first signs of market turbulence, but instead trusting in your understanding of a business.

Like Pavlov’s dogs, we know that we are all conditioned to some extent. But the path to a happier life is to question conventional wisdom. Much like the court jester — or “motley fool” — did in Shakespeare’s As You Like It! Particularly when popular thought was detrimental to the kingdom’s people…

Fool on!

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So the United States is in a recession.

Or is it?

Despite the widely accepted common criteria being met, President Biden denied that particular label for his country.

Closer to home, some experts similarly believe that the UK is already in a recession. And will continue to be in one until early 2023.

But, again, there are those who dispute this and point to widely accepted rules of thumb not yet being met.

What is not open to debate, however, is the fact that Britain is in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

What should we do with our limited savings?

With inflation and interest rates soaring, households’ real incomes are falling dramatically across the country.

Which some might say makes saving — and investing — near impossible.

So with this in mind, I wanted to ask Fools on Twitter whether they believed the Financial Independence, Retire Early (F.I.R.E) movement was still possible in a recession.

As you can see below, it was a tight call. But optimism won out!

It’s well broadcast that advocates of F.I.R.E are scrupulous savers, and fully committed to the movement in order to see the benefits.

Columns upon columns upon columns have been written in print and online about ways to help cut costs during the coming months.

Certainly, I myself have sought to reduce outgoings.

And to help further, I’m planning on invest those savings into high-yield shares. Much like F.I.R.E. proponents do.

Dividend stocks are a great example of passive income, of course. And while my aim would be to reinvest those dividends into further shares, in order to benefit from the power of compounding, I acknowledge that I might need to use that additional income to help pay increasing bills, for instance.

And, you know what, that’s okay. I’d happily be in that fortunate position of knowing I can dip into those funds if I need to.

So don’t be disheartened if — or, indeed, as it’s looking increasingly likely, when — we enter into a recession. Not least because the markets and companies alike are already acting as though we’re already in one.

Instead maintain a positive, Foolish (capital F!) outlook. I for one will continue to buy shares. Yes, the aforementioned high yielders — but also growth stocks where I see decent opportunities. Because a diversified portfolio is one of the best ways to ride out a recession!

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Sam Robson has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Twitter. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.