Black October wiped out $2.5 trillion in investor wealth tied to stocks. This is starting to cause investors and academics to rethink the concept of 'stocks for the long run', an investment strategy championed by the likes of Warren Buffett and John Bogle.
Has "Buy and Hold" become "Buy and Fold"?
Karen Finerman says that its pre-mature to bury "buy and hold" as a successful investment style. While the increased volatility in the markets has made trading more of a play, its still reasonable to invest for the long term if you're following up with the companies to make sure they continue to remain strong. Check company balance sheets and see if they can meet their obligations, and are able to weather the economic downturn.
