Buy American Stocks. Buffett Is.

Buy American. I Am. by Warren Buffett:

The financial world is a mess, both in the United States and abroad. Its problems, moreover, have been leaking into the general economy, and the leaks are now turning into a gusher. In the near term, unemployment will rise, business activity will falter and headlines will continue to be scary.

A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense.

Let me be clear on one point: I can’t predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven’t the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month — or a year — from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up.

Today people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn’t. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value. Indeed, the policies that government will follow in its efforts to alleviate the current crisis will probably prove inflationary and therefore accelerate declines in the real value of cash accounts.

Equities will almost certainly outperform cash over the next decade, probably by a substantial degree.

Yet more great advice from Warren Buffett. I must admit I think buying stocks from the USA and elsewhere is wise, but there isn’t any reason to listen to me instead of him.

Related: Financial Markets Continue Panicky BehaviorGreat Advice from Warren BuffettStock Market DeclineWarren Buffett’s 2004 Annual ReportDoes a Declining Stock Market Worry You?

Comments

2 responses to “Buy American Stocks. Buffett Is.”

  1. Deborah Santopietro Avatar
    Deborah Santopietro

    I really don’t make a lot of money, less than 16,000 a year, but I would like to find some American stock to invest in like Mr. Buffett advised to do. My problem is that I don’t know anything about the stock market or which are American stocks. Can you help or make some suggestions?
    Thank you,

  2. John Avatar

    Deborah,

    Mutual funds are a good way to go for many beginning investors. I invest in VTI, an exchange traded fund that tracks the US market.

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