Let’s Put This “Crash” into Perspective

According to the data posted on GlobeInvestor, here are the % price changes for the year for the three big indexes in the U.S. and Canada:

DJIA:
This Week: Up 0.44%
This Month: Down 1.9%
This Year: Up 6.2%

S&P 500:
This Week: Up 1.44%
This Month: Down 3.7%
This Year: Up 2.5%

S&P/TSX:
This Week: Down 0.73%
This Month: Down 4.7%
This Year: Up 4.3%

I think those numbers are still pretty positive. Yes we lost a lot of ground in the last couple of weeks, but these indexes seem pretty strong considering the carnage that has been reported in the news. Are we done yet – who knows but I think the message is pretty clear – stay focused on your long term objectives and for pete’s sake, don’t fall prey to the gloom and doom of the media. Remember, they are the ones that make the most money in markets like this.