You may sometimes hear analysts say that investors are more interested in a return of their money rather than a return on their money. It seems like an innocuous enough throwaway quip.
But the switching of the seemingly harmless prepositions “of” and “on” can send shivers down the spines of many investors. It can make us question whether it is a good idea to invest in risk assets such as shares when markets are as volatile as they have been in recent months. Perhaps it might be better to stick with cash.
Investing at the moment can be even more troubling when the market is so obviously divided about the outlook for the global economy. There are good reasons for the division – the world is facing unprecedented economic difficulties and heightened health concerns. And frustratingly for many investors, we are already six months into the outbreak of COVID-19.
But we are still...