Blog

What does History tell us about Current Markets

Data that I've highlighted multiple times in various articles and interviews over the last several months. Worth a recap:

1. The Smallcap index fell nearly 80% in 2008-9, it fell nearly two-thirds in 2018/19

When something falls 2/3rds, it can triple and you will make zero Returns.

The 2/3 years' returns of various small and micro cap managers or Smallcap funds being highlighted are to be seen in this context.

2. Another way of looking at it is that if something falls 80% and then compounds 50% for the next THREE years, you are still down about 1/3rd on your initial investment.

3. While in theory the 2008 high was breached in 2016, it was not the same index or stocks.

Many small caps that fall fade into oblivion. They NEVER come back.

The index churns 18-20% every year. In 5 years it's a new index altogether.

For context, about 4000 odd companies trade on the Indian stock exchanges today. The number of total listings till now is many times this number. There have been years with over a thousand IPOs.

4. While putting stop losses limit losses in large caps, they don't really work in small caps - where there is often no way to sell when everyone crowds the exits.

It is usually circuit down every day when these stocks fall!

5. Even hedging does not work for small caps as the only liquid puts available are for the Nifty - the small cap stocks do not move along with the Nifty.
Just to let you in on our strategy at First Global, we normally have 14-15% of our PMS portfolios in stocks between 1000 and 5000 crores market cap. We are currently around 7% in these. Yes, we are well aware that it may hurt relative performance in the short run but our first priority is to manage risk.

6. Can you choose wisely so that you're not caught in this trap when the bubble bursts?

Near impossible.

How many smallcaps did not fall in 2008/9? A grand total of 1%!

In 2018/19, the number was 8%

Do not fool yourself that your portfolio would consist of only these.

In this context, an old favourite from John Kenneth Galbraith's 'A Short History of Financial Euphoria'.

"There can be few fields of human endeavour in which history counts for so little as in the world of finance".

Time to get into a steadier stock portfolio.

Just to recap from our earlier statements, we do not expect a sustained crash in the large cap space invested in our PMS portfolios, although we are partially hedged. However smallcaps, microcaps, IPOs etc are areas where you should be super careful.

From the desk of 

Devina Mehra

If you want any help at all in your wealth creation journey, in managing your Investments, just drop us a line via this link and we will be right by your side as your wealth advisor, super quick!
Or WhatsApp us on +91 88501 69753

Chat soon!

Tell Us What You Think:
Accolades & Happiness Under Management

First Global has been widely commended by Global Media. And by thousands of big & small investors worldwide

Subscribe to our fun & thought provoking articles

Contact us on (contact@firstglobalsec.com), to get cracking on building serious wealth!

Follow our buzzing social media handles