The net asset value if I put in the latest share price, has currently declined by 30,1%.

While I can “beat myself up” about not having a higher cash allocation, I am currently outperforming the majority of the global stock market benchmarks that I am tracking which will also mean that I am outperforming UK, US, European, Australian and Indian equity funds on average, by over 6% in US dollar equivalents.

My portfolio being a mix of largely, global stocks with a weighting towards US and Hong Kong listed companies has led to the current out performance as the Hang Seng has “only” declined by 18%.

While I can do a “what was I thinking?” commentary in hindsight, on too high a weighting in the portfolio to BP, Shell and some of my bank stocks, it would in no way compare to Warren Buffett’s horrendous investment decisions in airline stocks (something when he was younger, he personally savaged as one of the easiest ways to destroy your capital);  his investment in US car manufacturer, General Motors and his investment in an overleveraged, US oil producer, Occidental Petroleum which will likely require him and the government to bail the company out.

His portfolio overall declined by 39% during the same time period but his saving grace and his shrewdness was to have his cash allocation in his portfolio, which he had been sitting on pretty much for the last several years, at 34% of his fund (compared to just 5% in mine).

As a result, his company, Berkshire Hathaway is sitting on a paper loss of 26% rather than the 30% that I am, with more cash to buy equity assets over the coming months.