We certainly live in interesting times, but sometimes I wish, like a wise oriental man once said, to be spared of that fate, and that I could live in uninteresting times. Well, enough talk, let’s walk, I told myself. Amid COVID-19, why not walk through Switzerland. And that’s what I did and after 2 weeks, I arrived at the village of St Gallenkappel, where the most innovative toilet manufacturer originated.

Like most of us, I have just spent one of the most singular months of April that I can remember. “Comparaison n’est pas raison”, but let’s wind back a few centuries to see what we can learn from history!

We are now in the eye of the storm. Whenever & wherever you switch on, you only hear about the “elephant in the room”. We are where it feels the most unpleasant and/or unwise to own any equities, or any financial assets, as a matter of fact. The only good news that I can serve is: It won’t last forever.

In investment, as in other endeavours in life, it is a good idea, when in stress situations, to pause & think. In light of recent developments, namely the spread of COVID-19, the US primaries and a panicky Mr. Market, one is naturally tempted to cling to the latest piece of information, as if this will disclose some eternal truth.

For the past 2 weeks, the financial markets have been feeling the effects of COVID-19. Are they really ill?

During the 12th anniversary of the launch of our Swiss equities strategy, the CFO of Calida Group, one of the Fund's holdings, presented company's strategy and how it is adapting to the rapidly evolving clothing industry.

Long-term, Mr. Market is a compounder, short-term he is often a disruptor. Pierre Cloux discusses Swiss equities performance in 2019 and what we may expect in the year to come.

The FOBO/FOMO combination is for me the permanent fear of backing the wrong horse and being stuck with a “value trap” in the Fund, while other stocks are skyrocketing, not to mention the concern as to what/how FCI (Friendly Competitors Incorporated) is doing/performing!

25 years ago, a Swiss Miss Daisy didn’t exist! It bloomed in 2006, as the result of a graft between Zschokke & Batigroup, and was baptized Implenia, the company with the Daisy logo.

What I have learned over the last 12 years as an investor & fund manager, is that, even though there are long stints of calm & serenity along the way, there are also some uncomfortable events & looming imponderables.