Bad Start to 2016

The Bear should be in hibernation in winter?  No?

When you least expected it, the Bear Army sprang a surprise attack on the first week of 2016.  While my total portfolio value (invested capital) stayed at positive territory at the end of 2015, it dipped below after the Thursday selldown.  Though I still have quite a safety margin if including the dividends collected.

All my 28 counters declined and turned red on Thursday! (I have a small nibble into UOB on Monday, but perhaps I ate too early!).  Even on that Black Monday 0n 24th August 2015, there was at least a couple of my counters stayed green.  This has not happened before since I actively monitored my portfolio from 2012.

On 24th August, my portfolio declined $7K.  Small consolation was that it dipped just $4.7K on Thursday despite totally red in all counters.  Or perhaps the STI has not been returned to its level at August.

The first week does not bode well for the stock market in 2016.  The Bear Army could do a hit-and-run and could stay entrenched for a long time.  

I will stay invested but will revise my dividend forecast down by 10% as I do not think some companies could maintain the dividend payouts in 2016, especially those in the O&G sector.  My hope of of reaching $12K dividends for the year looks less and less likely.  

Lastly, we also need to ponder carefully when and where to deploy our warchest......