Börsen courses: fear when looking at the depot? You can do that now

Maybe we were all a bit of a success. It was quite sure those who have only entered the stock market in recent years via index funds, i.e. ETFs. The most popular stock market index by far, which ended up in savings plans and depots, is the MSCI World Index. And he delivered returns of 15, 17 or even over 20 percent – per year. But since US President Donald Trump explained the trade war to the rest of the world, the courses have broken down. Many investors promptly deal with fear.

Seals of stock prices fluctuate, you have read that many times, but please don’t like that! For weeks now you can see the many red signs in stock market platforms and in your own depot. Because the courses have been falling since February 18. The crash has accelerated again, especially in the past few days. The course of the MSCI World almost fell like a stone, as fast and so steep. In the meantime, the money invested has decimated a lot and there is no end to the course slide. Is that the big crash now? Was it a mistake to put the stock market?

To put it right away: Financial market experts only speak of a crash when the courses have decreased by more than 20 percent on a wider front. So far, at least the MSCI World Index has lost 15 percent since the high in February. This is bitter, very clear. But he is now on the stand where he was in May last year and also in February 2024. The world index has roughly eradicated the increase in value that it had brought in last year. It is still at around 3,300 points. In September 2022 there were no 2400 points.

So whether it was a mistake to buy such a equity fund should only be decided after the next sentence: Whoever has had such a world ETF for five years, i.e. since the beginning of the corona crisis-which actually made many Germans a share saving-can be happy about an increase in value of almost 75 percent. Especially because the market slump at the start of pandemege had beaten the courses so strongly and unexpectedly. The course of the MSCI World has roughly doubled on an eleven year view. Try to achieve this with a different form of investment.

Anyone who is currently dealing with fear because they consider the American president to be even more unpredictable than global pandemic, you should take a deep breath and let these numbers take effect at least once overnight. And as long as the depot does not touch. If the bad feeling remains, he should seriously think whether stocks are really the right one for him – or whether he did not overestimate his own risk tolerance. But don’t panic, even if it is so, you don’t have to sell all shares hectically. On the contrary.

Try it like this: From now on, just put such index funds into the depot that are particularly stable and fluctuate little. Bonds, for example, on the Global Agregate Bond Index or the European Pendant, the Euro Agregate Bond Index. They rely on government papers from countries with good solvency and on corporate bonds of solid global corporations. The interesting thing about them is: their courses usually rise when the stock prices fall. Even now they are climbing properly. In difficult times, a number of green numbers appear on their custody account. Bonds stabilize the depot, say financial experts. In addition, bonds throw fixed, predictable interest annually.

And every good depot consists of several components anyway, not just a MSCI World ETF. To say it clearly: he is and remains a very good basis. But he also fluctuates strongly and can have weakness phases. Therefore, it should not be the only investment in the long run, especially when the depot grows and the amount created increases. Because otherwise the losses in the fall phases can be large and there is always a risk that you will not endure this as an investor.

At the latest from 50,000 euros-gladly earlier-you should therefore think about whether you are not specifically buying ETF to European or Asian stocks in addition to the world ETF (which contains a lot of American stocks). Or, for example, a more defensive ETF that specifically relies on quality companies. Then the worldwide or a European Value Index or the World Quality Index are possible. This already sprinkles the risk, as it says in the financial jargon. And already in the share part of the depot.

In addition, you should not only rely 100 percent on shares, especially if you are already a bit older, but also buy safe bonds or bond ETFs from part of the money. Or park it in interest above two percent on the time deposit account. Those who have very good nerves grab 20 percent of liquid means into such safe forms of investment. If you are a little more careful and want to choose the middle ground from security and yield, you push around 40 percent into safe papers. And if you are very skeptical, reduce the share part to 20 percent.

Everyone should only make it clear: crashes happen again and again on the stock market. No one knows how long they will last. Sometimes it is only a few weeks, another time the courses fall for months. To the current crash, asset manager Benjamin Bente von Vates Invest says: The market reacts to the idea that free trade has been put on hold for the time being, “this is now important. And it makes little sense that this repricing takes place for weeks and months, rather it will be a few days.” A large part of the downward movement should therefore take place in a few days, “and this sale started on Thursday last week, on April 3.”.

But every crash has come to an end so far, and so far the courses have always increased far beyond their initial value. This has been the case for the stock exchanges of the world for more than 120 years. Even if deep crises or even war shook the world, why. Why? Because the economy has always understood it to reinvent itself – and continue to grow. And stock owner got a good disc from this success. That is the reason why shares are worthwhile in the depot. If we manage to hold on to them long enough until the next success story begins.