Global Market Investing

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  • 1.  Where Would You Put New Money Right Now?

    Posted 20 days ago

    More than halfway through 2026 and one question arises to many investors' minds: what do you do with your next dollar? 

    2026 has given investors a lot to process at once. The Strait of Hormuz has swung between closed, briefly reopened and then closed again, keeping the oil markets and those who invest on edge. U.S. tariffs have been imposed on a wide variety of nations across the world and then suddenly reversed within weeks, scrambling supply-chain bets. China continues pushing harder to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) and chip manufacturing industries. And the war between Russia-Ukraine grinds on alongside tensions in the Middle East continues onward with no clear end in sight. 

    Any one of these alone would be enough to put pressure on investors to reallocate their portfolios and assess their buy/sell positions. With so much happening at once, investors have to decide where they see opportunity, where they see risk and where they're better off waiting. 

    That's the question worth asking directly: if you had fresh capital to deploy today, where would you put it amidst the uncertain market we are currently experiencing in 2026? 

    Do you lean into energy and shipping names given the Hormuz volatility? Play defense with gold or short-duration bonds? Take a contrarian position in China or emerging markets on the assumption that the worst is priced in? Or sit mostly in cash until some of this geopolitical chaos clears? 

    Seasoned investors know there's no single right answer right now, and that's exactly what makes it worth talking through with people who are watching the same headlines and weighing the same trade-offs. 

    And today, I want to discuss one key thing that is at the top of all of our minds: Given everything happening in global markets right now (Hormuz, tariffs, China, Russia-Ukraine, etc.) where would you put new money today, and what risks (or opportunities) would you be considering? 

    We hope you join the conversation and share your take. 

     



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    Jenna Brashear
    AAII Community Manager
    Chicago, IL
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  • 2.  RE: Where Would You Put New Money Right Now?

    Posted 19 days ago
    Edited by ROBERT ADAMS 19 days ago

    Can you name a time when the markets weren't "uncertain" and everything was perfectly stable? In my 65 years on the planet, I cannot remember one. I like to read history, and I've yet to read about such a time before my birth.

    With any available cash, I am always on the hunt for long-term bargains. That is, I want to buy something that I think will be worth a lot more in the distant future, and I want some insurance, or a margin for error, by buying it when its current price is depressed. When the market is near an all-time high, like it is now, such bargains are very hard to find. 

    I normally hold 100% equities, but at the moment, I'm sitting on more cash than I usually do---about 1.5% of my total portfolio. When the bargains eventually reappear (they always do), I'll deploy all but two or three months' worth of expenses into equities.



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    Rob Adams
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  • 3.  RE: Where Would You Put New Money Right Now?

    Posted 19 days ago

    I'd have to agree with Robert. There's always uncertainty.

    Unlike some retirees, I still have steady income to invest each month, so I have a mix of O'Shaughnessy's TrendValue, several ETFs, and 6-7 long-term stocks in my portfolio. Every month I invest the same amount regardless of the market. The only time I might move from that strategy is if the market falls by a significant amount (more than the normal correction), I might accelerate my monthly investment to take advantage of a significant dip. Otherwise, I ignore the market noise and invest consistently. Been doing that since 1995. No regrets.



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    DAVID BILLINGSLEY
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  • 4.  RE: Where Would You Put New Money Right Now?

    Posted 19 days ago

    Given the currently large amount of margin debt, I expect US markets to dive when the momentum buyers turn, thus new money should go overseas. I have no sense whether 'tis better to look north, south, east or west.



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    JAMES CARROLL
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