5 Reasons Not to Panic-Sell Over the Coronavirus Outbreak
Over the weekend, reports confirmed the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak into areas of South Korea and Italy. That sent stock market investors into a near panic, with pre-market futures contract trading suggesting a potential 900-point drop for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI).
Steep moves like that inevitably make headlines, and can test the resolve of even the most experienced investors. Yet drops like this are also part of what any long-term investor has to get through in order to get the strong returns that they'll earn over time. Below, we'll look at five things to keep in mind as you decide how to handle your portfolio in light of the coronavirus news.
The Dow's drop is a big one, but it hasn't exactly put a dent in the bull market that long-term investors have experienced for more than a decade now. The Dow's first close above 28,000 came on Nov. 16, so even if the Dow closed down 1,000 points on Monday, it would only cost investors a small portion of the gains they've enjoyed over the long run.
Source Fool.com
