Strong decisions can bring good results despite uncertainties.

COWDENBEATH Rotary Club members were given assurances on Thursday night that despite the concerns in the world caused through the Iran war, investments can still be made with confidence.

Giving the advice was Eric Spreng, who has been Redmayne Bentley Stockbrokers' agent in central Scotland, based in Perth, for over two decades.

The Dunfermline man was the evening's speaker and he admitted that while there had to be worries over the many uncertainties caused by the current hostilities in the Gulf, the Markets were open, trades were clearing, capitals flowing and investors doing what they have always done best, worrying productively!

“If you were to design a period guaranteed to make investors uneasy, this would be a strong contender,” he said, “Economic growth has slowed in places, and surprised in others.

“Inflation is no longer a headline problem it was, but it still hasn't fully returned to its box. Interest rates have moved from zero to 'meaningful' in record time.

“And technological change, particularly Artificial Intelligence, has gone from curiosity, to board room level obsession, so it is no wonder that many investors feel as though the ground has shifted beneath their feet.

“But here is the important point point, markets are not designed to flourish in only calm conditions. Markets are designed to function in uncertainty.

“In fact uncertainty is not a bug of investing, it is a feature that creates returns. The truth is that the discomfort investors feel often is the very thing that creates opportunity,”

He stressed: “Successful investing is not about avoiding volatility it is about surviving it.

“Staying invested, rebalancing sensibly and focusing on long term objectives usually matter more than tactical brilliance.

“Looking around today today it is tempting to think we are living in unprecedented times, but really every generation thinks that. If history teaches us anything it is that the world never settles down enough for comfort and markets never ask it to.

“Our role as investors is not to predict which block will wobble next, or when someone will bump the table. It is to build portfolios sturdy enough to endure the movement, flexible enough to adapt, and disciplined enough to stay standing when others step away.”