Sharesight Blog

Rough week on the sharemarket?

Posted by Nigel Ramsay on January 18, 2008

It’s been a bit of a rough week on the share market. Both in New Zealand and Australia. Currently we’re up to 12 straight days of losses.

But, is it really all doom and gloom? I’ve been keeping a close eye on my portfolio using Sharesight. Sure, there’s some red in there, but it’s not that bad. The reason I’m not terribly depressed is because I get the full picture on my portfolio. That’s capital gains, dividend payouts and also currency movements.

For many of my shares, I’m actually still ahead compared to this time last year. Take for example, my investment in Colonial Motor Company (CMO.NZ).

Including those 12 straight days of losses, I’m actually ahead by 8.5% Sure, if I only look at the capital gains or losses – it’s a sad story. But, to get an accurate picture you have to look at all of the individual components that contribute to your total performance.

So I suggest if you’re feeling a little down about your investments, take a closer look at all the components – Capital Gains, Dividends and Currency movements. I think you’ll find it’s not as bad as your initially thought!

If you don’t already have a Sharesight account, sign up today for a free trial, or check out the video tour to find out more.