Coronavirus - Overall
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@voodoo said in Coronavirus: should I be panicking yet?:
Only general point I'd make is to be careful buying on div yields based on past dividends paid. There are undoubtedly bargain buying periods coming up, but there will be a lot of companies struggling in the face of a global slowdown. Past dividends may bear very little resemblance to future ones.
Too true. Historic P/E ratios are looking extremely attractive but to try and get a meaningful forward P/E is very hard. We could see earnings falling far enough to support the current values.
Gulp!
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I do wonder if the current crisis will see a shift in how we work and how society operates - people gettting used to working from home, managers see overall productivity the same and the need for the daily commute seen as not only an expensive pain the the arse but not actually necessary. The infrastructure is pretty much there and reduction in CO2 could reinforce a radical change in working practices. We could well see a radical change in society - much of which could be broadly positive for the local environment and people's lives.
How will that affect major companies?
1960's "Why do men wear hats to work? - because we always have"
2020's "Why do you spend hours travelling to a place to turn on a PC when you can turn on the PC at home? - because we always have"
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@Victor-Meldrew I think this is a possible outcome for larger companies that have a better handle on working practices and perhaps less ego involved but less so for some smaller companies where you can get a more emotional response to things. I could be wrong and influenced by my own workplace where there is an overly controlling management, but I have enough grey hairs to understand that it is difficult to take the human response out of things.
Logic would say you're right, experience would say hold on a minute. Certainly as we are at present.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Coronavirus: should I be panicking yet?:
I do wonder if the current crisis will see a shift in how we work and how society operates - people gettting used to working from home, managers see overall productivity the same and the need for the daily commute seen as not only an expensive pain the the arse but not actually necessary. The infrastructure is pretty much there and reduction in CO2 could reinforce a radical change in working practices. We could well see a radical change in society - much of which could be broadly positive for the local environment and people's lives.
How will that affect major companies?
1960's "Why do men wear hats to work? - because we always have"
2020's "Why do you spend hours travelling to a place to turn on a PC when you can turn on the PC at home? - because we always have"
I’ve been working from home in the UK and NZ since 2006. It’s not for everybody, it can be quite challenging to keep productive, and it does not suit all occupations.
It’s very useful for output based work, eg write this code by this time.
I will say that the modern tools for meetings and collaboration are excellent these days.
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Well the full impact is finally being felt here in the USA
Kids are off school the rest of the month, at least.
I have to work from home for awhile.
All sporting events are getting cancelled. I was going to take the kids to watch CO Raptors play - Rene Ranger has been in fine form, but all suspended.
Everyone going nuts for toilet paper - just bizarre. -
@Kirwan said in Coronavirus: should I be panicking yet?:
I’ve been working from home in the UK and NZ since 2006. It’s not for everybody, it can be quite challenging to keep productive, and it does suit all occupations.
I was pretty much able to work from home from 2001. Hated it. Really lacked the discipline to make it work.
Often worked 3-4 days a week when working away on client sites doing 11-12 hour days and being on call for the other days if needed. That worked for me.
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Possibly people will work in the office 1-2 days a week?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Coronavirus: should I be panicking yet?:
Possibly people will work in the office 1-2 days a week?
That will be more likely I think. Be quite transformational.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Coronavirus: should I be panicking yet?:
Possibly people will work in the office 1-2 days a week?
Not sure that helps the quarantine issue? Not contagious some of the time?
OK being a bit facetious.
I think working from home will suit some occupations a whole lot more than others. IT? Piece of piss. Tyre fitters? Less so. In theory at my place we all have the ability to work from home but the reality is that some things have to go out in hard copy and then again we need to be able to deal with the mail. Not as simple as it might seem for many businesses.
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@Catogrande said in Coronavirus: should I be panicking yet?:
Not as simple as it might seem for many businesses.
For sure. But I think the amount of home-working could well reach critical mass.
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Impressed with the supermarkets here re home delivery.
Tell them you are self-isolating and they will txt you just before they arrive and leave your stuff on your door-step if you wish. Also giving priority to people on receipt of an email from a GP.
Might help stop silly panic buying as well
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Anyone know what happens if you are blocked entry to a country? Trying to help get my brother out and there is serious risk they might not make the cut-off for singapores border closer at midnight sunday. Do they send you back from whence you came or put you in holding somewhere? Singapore will be just a transit enroute to NZ.
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@Rembrandt Does he have a travel agent? I got blocked from going to Korea last week but the travel agent managed to get us on a flight home straight away from Japan which was a big relief. Had to pay 550 extra for it but it would have been a lot worse had we got stuck in Korea. Could be a struggle if he doesn't have a travel agent though.
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@African-Monkey yep he is dealing with an agent..agent is trying to book them a flight back via vancouver for next week. To me that is way too late and canada will block spain travellers by then. Hopefully they know best.
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@Mick-Gold-Coast-QLD he got it wrong. He's a young man and young men do stupid things. He's apologised now.
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Last night my son's basketball was called off. The Mrs received a text from the team manager to say in the interest of health etc. My wife in her infinite wisdom asked: "is it because of the Coronavirus?"
Yesterday, after watching events like the Grand Prix get canceled as any events that gather more than 500 people will be. She bought her entry into a multi-event, due to take place next weekend which sees roughly 900 people compete...
So at least there is still a level of normalcy in my day to day life.