
What is a stock market crash?
You speak of a stock market crisis or crash when the financial markets experience a sudden and hard drop of 7% to 15%. When the stock market steadily drops over a short period, now by 1% and then by 0.8%, etc., then we speak of a bear market but not a real stock market crash. Often a stock market crisis is also preceded by a period of great wealth, inexplicable increases and bubble formation.
Can you predict a stock market crash?
There are certainly signals that you can reason that a stock market crisis could possibly be near. But nobody can really predict exactly when or how hard a stock market decline will hit. There are too many elements that influence the financial markets.
Signals that can be taken into account are excesses. For example, think of longer periods of low interest rates. Money can be borrowed cheaply and does not flow to the real economy, but to investments and financial products. In that case, the value of a share can be too high in relation to the intrinsic value or profit of a company. When this bubble bursts, it can cause a chain reaction on the stock exchange.
Political changes or decisions can also have a major impact on the financial market. For example, if war breaks out in a large oil-producing country or a takeover threatens, this can cause the oil price to rise sharply. These uncertainties can lead to major shocks on the stock exchange.

How long does a stock market crash last?
The duration of a stock market crisis depends somewhat on the impact of this crash on the entire economy. Since most sectors are interrelated, the fall of one particular sector often drags other companies down with it. In general, a really hard crisis only recovers in the course of a number of years after the fall on the stock market.
The stock market crash of 2009 mainly affected the investor, but the average saver felt this crash less hard. This is partly due to the state support that large system banks received in order to survive.
However, during the Great Depression in the 1930s, the entire economy was hit hard. Banks went bankrupt without government support, and ordinary savers lost all their money with all the known consequences.
The recent event with Corona can also be classified as a stock market crisis.
Limiting the damage
How do you go about it yourself if you want to limit the damage of a stock market crisis? First of all, a good asset allocation is an important first step. Spreading over different sectors, currencies, financial products , etc. Dare to hedge large stock positions using put options . It will cost you a small premium, but you can limit large losses with it.
In addition, as an investor you should always invest with a sufficiently long investment horizon. You use money that you do not think you will need in the short term – five to ten years. If a stock market crash does occur, you can wait out the recovery. So definitely do not invest all your savings.
Staggered entry has proven its worth statistically. Invest a certain amount in a basket of selected investments step by step each month. By not buying all at once, you can spread your purchase price over a longer period. If a stock market crash occurs at that time, you also systematically buy the bottom price and build up your investments in this way. This is also called the Dollar Cost Averaging strategy.
Follow the news and be realistic. Trees don’t grow to the sky, if you hear alarming messages, dare to sell some of your investments now and then. If necessary, skim off the profit made and let your initially invested amount continue to yield. That way you keep some cash on hand to invest when the stock market actually takes a dive ( buying the dips )!
Start investing on the stock exchange
Do you want to start investing on the stock market? Then you can get access to a trading platform via a broker with which you can make transactions on the stock market yourself. Compare brokers and start today!
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