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LLL, I agree if a finer point was put on this than my intention.

The truth is the market did dip because of the deepseek scare. Its clear that the dip was in the main because of this and therefore due to that.

My comment as ever despaired at the kneejerk reaction to stuff like this. At the time that people were ditching, tech experts were saying loudly that Deepseek may even be helpful to the Western future of AI.

I'm not directing criticism at anyone on here.. Can human nature be changed? Well.. of course it can't, but those engaging in investing would do well to learn themselves not to react suddenly to this kind of story.

I say this simply from my experience. Thinking back over many years I recall that 90% plus of the events and media revelations that caused a dip has usually resulted in a rebound in relatively short order.

Maybe investors jotting down "adverse" events and then noting the intensity of recovery or fall likely resultant in a month or so's time might be a useful tool in gaining a handle on what's going on there. It certainly might help overcome some of the natural human jitters...

Sure, the other poster here stated that he coincidentally sold up before the Deepseek "event" (totally normal to sell up if that's what works for individuals) and that he viewed this as fortuitous given the deepseek issue (not exactly words but that's the jist). In this investors case, sure.. he got out before and it was unrelated.

The point I make is the general conception to media outlays like this does exist and resonate. The idea that Deepseek would result in a big knock back was evident.

I think as investors if we can be more disciplined generally then we are more likely to succeed.

I'm not levelling that at anyone in this forum, but I am underlining the human fear trait and how it is generally counter productive to investment in general.

I got into investing down to my father who invested for the company he worked for in the 1970s. This company was actually one listed on the LSE. He retired in his late 40s as he realised that by investing full time he could make more money than they were paying him to do this.

He taught me to invest and think as I do and I am lucky to have a great mentor in that. The way I invest reflects his and I really do think there is a lot to reflect on in that.

His mantra was always also buy ITs, allow the management team do the worry, ignore the news and hold. He ended his investment life stating that 99.9% of things he did actually worry about during a lifetime of investment he shouldn't have worried about at all.

A philosophy. That's all.

I offer my respect to all on here and their individual investment strategies.

Ps. I'm selling now in pension drawdown, but no more than I need at any given time.

I'm not telling anyone how to invest LLL, and of course they're not going to react to my advice if it contrasts with their own. I only own personally own investment trusts dealing with a great many concerns in their shell and have always reasoned that a management team reacting to the conditions in order to be successful makes a lot more sense than me stressing & worrying over every fear event such as Deepseek.

I'll take the rough with the smooth and ride out adverse conditions, but I personally believe (me, myself, I) that this kind of an investment will always generally lean towards success given man's natural drive to profit and succeed from innovation.

Had I individual company shares I would then perhaps be more reactive.

I'm not preaching to anyone, or indeed wishing to react to anyone else's points. I appreciate them and consider them, but for me this works fine... If my investments were to lose half overnight I'd not lose a wink over it and accept it philosophically. That's because I invested with a mindset that I could afford to lose some of it. It's however grown exponentially and given my simple tastes it's all I ask of it.

Stress & worry does kill, and perhaps some more than others... For me, it's the right philosophy but for others it may not be (indeed might not be prudent or even possible).

The investment banking sector feeds on fear and I choose to buy sensibly and forget about it until I need to draw down once a month. If that makes no sense to other individuals for a variety of reasons then so be it.

Let's just call it a contrasting philosophy that might be worth at least someone on here imagining.

Full respect as always LLL but no one had a crystal ball back then and I held as ever. I believe it was the right decision and I recall you held also.

I try and make the simple point that selling in haste over most issues and fears usually results in a rebound.

I've already said that what I did isn't for everyone, but that is my strategy. Buy well. Hold.

It's a generalised philosophy and was it flawed in a great way my investments would not currently be sitting at 2000% of what they were when I started this lot around 40 years ago.

I am simply trying to offer a completely contrasting point of view and an alternative generalistic philosophy as goes investment. I haven't crashed out generally living by it.

LLL. Very much so was there a period on here in which users suggested SMT be sued for mismanagement. We both commented upon it.

With respect to you also, I offer simply a reasonable philosophy as goes SMT. It's not a general advisory as of course I know people have very differing trajectories.

As possibly you I have invested for a great many years and offer simply a massively alternative discipline based upon my own experience (which includes endless examples of media frenzy temporarily panicking the markets as with Deepseek.

I say if you ain't got it to lose or potentially be eroded, don't invest it. Holding this kind of investment has always been my philosophy and I ignore pretty much all of the panic.

I'm not forcing anyone to take that up. Why would I?

I think 3 years ago we would not have advised anyone to invest in SMT on a short term basis, but yes.. that's possible right now and I'd think reasonably safe... I don't however believe it's the most sensible choice for that by a long shot.

Just a philosophy and I hope it engenders thought even if what I say is ultimately rejected, modified or even adopted.

Resipsa, I think your comment here underlines exactly what I was saying given the current price of SMT so soon after the terrified rush to the door following the "deepseek" panic. There is no positive irony for anyone who sold on the basis of that, only perhaps negative.

I've seen it a million times before tbh and you probably have also given 10 years of holding.

My point (and I keep re emphasizing it I know) is that the very best thing to do with SMT is buy on the basis of expecting a few knocks along with the leg ups, hold and sit on your hands. Sure, at the moment I wouldn't hold it against anyone buying as a short term lift but there are probably a lot better bets for that out there.

In my 40 years the only significant loss was the high interest rate post Nov 21 drop for SMT. I exchanged on here for years as concerns those describing SMT management as everything from criminal to foolhardy but refused to sell myself knowing they'd come right in the end. Ok... I lost probably more than anyone else here because of that decision, but then I never came anywhere near an overall 40 year loss accounting for inflation.

I guess that's a luxury of long term investment and I'm lucky. My investments are now around what they were in Nov 21 before the fall, which I consider fine given tech was then very frothy and overpriced anyway.

All I try and proffer is a worldly wise and basic discipline that allows better sleep at night. In terms of SMT, buy what you can afford to lose a bit on during the downs, largely ignore the technicalities, media frenzy, fear and argument and hold for as long as possible.

It's a philosophy that I offer in contrast to all of the knee jerking & gnashing of teeth.

I'm not expecting anyone to agree to it, just to consider it. In my view especially anyone who bought it in the last 3 years should most definitely keep holding if they can afford to.

How much was SMTs price before Deepseek I wonder? How long ago was that.. a week? I think I have a point...

Read "safe" as perhaps reasonably balanced... Always remember the number of investments involved. There are many and there's a fantastic management team hedging on our behalf.

There are far worse financial decisions, and the very worst would be to sell up as many did only a few days ago.

Absolute madness.

Buy. Ignore. Hold.

Simplistic but true.

I lost around 100k on SMT since the high interest rate dip and rubbish opinion insecurities. I always argued on here that it was unwarranted on a generalistic scale and held. I haven't made my money back on SMT yet, but it's happening & I'd sell any of my (all tech) concerns over SMT right now. SMT clearly has a confidence return which should be expected.

They were in disfavour, their management will confound their sceptics.

I've seen posters here pulling their hair out, essentially calling the trust criminal, regaling rises, rueing drops then rinse and repeat.

Just hold and forget.

It's an intelligent and safe investment.

I'm away from home with limited internet and I tbh felt likely the impact would only be a fraction of the actual drop, LLL. Thanks for underling the reality there ..

As ever, fear rules (that irrational beast).

Well spotted Run1... One day these losses, one day similar gains. No sweat...

My guess is as has happened before. SMT is the obvious and most popular target after years of pessimistic headlining concerning the trust.

Might be a big downturn in one of the many holdings, but 5% seems extreme given the number of concerns?

Interesting to see what the yanks think of it's valuation at the US open. It just seems they are fairly canny.

Strikes me as a good buy opportunity but until I know more I'll just hold...

Stuartrm, I was simply stating that we have reached that point and that this In my opinion will effect the fluidity of investment in the future.

I mentioned this as it had relevance to the poster before me.

In terms of effect all these things are worthy of consideration (as are the perhaps deeper technicals).

I'm not advocating a situation in which numbers are wiped out as that of course would be of no "benefit", despite (as you state) this being a possibility.

As every world economy depends on citizen to power it, the problem isn't going to particularly improve on any way.

I was simply tempering the recent posters expectations as goes continued appreciable recovery, despite feeling some distance on this is liable to happen nonetheless.

Apologies if it's too simplistic for this forum.

I'm with you on this Ripley94, but the news yesterday re increasing the UK defence input spending we are living in an increasingly volatile world which (imo) is increasingly imbuing volatility on the markets.

Once world inflation is tamed and interest rates are no longer an abject fear to those more inclined towards faster profits, I agree with you things will pick up.

My only reservation is that big bumpy and demoralising knocks may seem increasingly likely in a world that has just far too many people in it.

I can understand why someone might buy/sell in short succession with the individual interests in a shares it package like SMT, but not SmT as a conglomerate.

Of course trading in individual investments will follow this pathway effecting the price of SMT ultimately, but SMT is always going to remain a buy in and stay in investment to get the best out of it.

We should see a rebound on Monday (he says cautiously) which I hope (he again says cautiously) underlines the temporary nature of many events creating negativity... Pessimism rules of course...

Looks likely continued low sentiment for SMT comparatively given the 4.23% loss following the US open. They appear to be particularly negative as concerns the IT although some of it might be due to the recent news of pairing of 10% staffing that suggests Tesla demand downturn?

Ostensibly generalistic stuff down to fears of an expanding middle East conflict... Perhaps the powers that be in Israel might now be threatened with withdrawal of weaponry if they respond against Iran and grow up a little given they struck recently first?

I'm not holding my breathe but am hanging in in there nonetheless....

Longer we might hope, LLL.

I must admit to becoming slightly baffled as to the continued distrust in SMT which is still so evident when comparing to the likes of others such as pct and att (both of which having wiped their faces or beyond since the falls of 2021). Sure you are right in that high inflation is continuing to linger, but given that the others have undergone a fulsome recovery (albeit not far in excess of their 2021 peaks, SMT rain somewhat in the doldrums).

I note the nav is currently around -7% and that unlisted concerns (a big wodge) are only fully worth evaluated after 12 months, but most of the portfolio should now have been evaluated?

I'm holding come what may for more recovery to come, however, so just musings. That being said there are still no signs as goes sentiment that SMT are seen as undervalued and a future cracker.

What do you think on this and what are your thoughts concerning such lacklustre continued recovery (much discussed in the past, I know)...

Sentiment, sentiment..

The penny will drop, but primacy trumps recency (look it up if needed).

Nothing bad about SMT but the water needs to fill SMTs optimistic basin in order to outweigh it's pessimistic one.

The world is really very full of impressionable people I'm afraid...

That I would trust DorsetLSE. It's good to have an impartial ear to the ground to relate to.

Given that I rarely sell and only have 5 holdings (4 of which are ITs) in total which I am treating as a long term investment which I will ultimately draw down if needed to complement my pension, I'm not sure that would work for me but can see how it would be a useful subscription for a more dynamic investor.

I'm interested in other perspectives of the investment media? Does anyone find any of it useful or informative? Does any media outlook have a history of providing insightful info?

I guess we aren't talking Motley Fool here...

I take interest in world politics, news and economics but have been constantly dismayed by the advice of most of the financial media (beyond generally truthful news such as the FT). It's never done my investment strategy too much harm to go my own way and stay, but then I'm not often a buy/sell/buy type of person and I have always regretted it when I have done so. I put that game to bed a long time ago beyond shifting my perspectives slightly based upon my own s

observations.

Am I alone? I would be interested in perspectives.

Apologies for dual posting down to editing small mistakes. The latest post is correct.

Sfh300 I say that with thanks for providing the link. On a positive basis I believe it at least points to the fact that these investments have better days in them just in the same way as they have just experienced bad. I always adhere to my mantra however of buying well and holding. Despite seeing myself lose around £80k down to SMT plunging since Nov 21 alone, I have never regretted holding it throughout and see no reason to discontinue this stance (especially now).