A Chaotic Summer
It has been a turbulent time on the stock market this summer. People started talking about the possibility that we’re in an AI bubble. Given all the uncertainty, I kept a low profile. However, I still made a few trades.
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
I sold my ZIM shares in June. When the share price dropped in July, I bought some shares again. Then I sold them all in August. I did so since the world of shipping is very complex. I’ve owned this stock several times, and I know it can be very volatile. I have way too many volatile stocks as it is, and since this one yielded some profits, it was the first to go.
Realty Income
I bought Realty Income in June because I need more bricks in order to build my monthly dividend empire. Whether it was a good time to enter will show over time. The dividend of Realty Income has been stable for many years, and they have also raised the dividend regularly. This is my best performing stock at the moment.
The Biggest Drop Came During My London Vacation
I wasn’t particularly active on the stock market during July and August. I went to London on July 31st and came home on August 8th. One evening, I was sitting in the hotel room looking at my holdings, and that’s when I saw my biggest drop ever.
It was probably lucky that this happened while I was away on vacation; I really had other things to focus on. I also know that a decline is often just the start of further declines, so I stayed calm. I logged in just to check for any margin calls, but thankfully, it never came to that.
In Summary, My Worst Summer So Far
My portfolio is performing really bad just as I’ve started writing about it on this blog. This has been my worst stock market summer to date. I bought too many shares earlier this year, and I have too many high-risk stocks. Since this is money invested for the long term, I’ll let the capital stay where it is. I’m not giving up on the investments yet; this is just a small bump in the long road ahead.
Just Looking Ahead
It will be interesting to see if there will be any interest rate cuts this fall; it would likely impact the stock market a bit. The U.S. election will probably also play a big role.
Overall, my gut feeling tells me to wait. There is a lot of uncertainty right now. A bright spot in all the decline is that there could be many good buying opportunities. I welcome a downtrend in the monthly dividend stocks so I can buy more.
I’ve Finally Discovered Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Other than that, there isn’t much more to write. I’m recovering from a cold and have mostly been playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I borrowed the game from a relative just before I went to London. As soon as I got home, I bought a Nintendo Switch and a copy of ACNH for myself.
Buying the game makes me a bit of a hypocrite since I’ve been talking all summer about reducing screen time. But I just had to, since the game is so adorable. For those unfamiliar with the game, it’s a life-simulation where players move to a deserted island and create their own paradise.
The Perfect Way to Relax Right Now
I really felt that I missed gaming. I used to play a lot, but stopped completely when I started working full-time. My brother says I’ll probably get tired of ACNH soon, but it doesn’t feel like that. Since you follow the seasons in the game, it will at least be fun for a year. It’s the perfect relaxation right now anyway, while the stock market is boring, and I don’t feel like writing due to my cold.
In my next post, I’ll provide an update on my goals related to both my investments and writing. Hopefully, I’ll have managed to do more than just play ACNH.
I just have to be clear that I’m not a licensed financial analyst. I’m not giving any advice. This blog post is just pure inspiration. Remember, you’re investing at your own risk!