I’m ramping up my pension contributions as retirement draws nearer, only two years to go now. This month, I saved £900, and I’ve set next month’s payment to £1,900. My focus is crystal clear, every bit of spare income is going straight into my pension to maximise the government’s tax-free cash allowance.
Networth statement
With £22K in income from tech shares this month, I’ve made serious progress. The £112K deficit is now just a distant memory as I move steadily towards the retirement finish line.
| Date | Total Net Worth | £ Gain this month | % Gain this month | Accum Yearly Gain |
| 14/11/2024 | £448,717 | £27,062 | 6.42% | £27,062 |
| 29/12/2024 | £470,052 | £21,335 | 4.75% | £48,397 |
| 18/01/2025 | £476,266 | £6,214 | 1.32% | £54,611 |
| 16/02/2025 | £479,644 | £3,378 | 0.71% | £57,989 |
| 16/04/2025 | £375,446 | -£112,369 | -23.04% | -£54,379 |
| 16/05/2025 | £433,326 | £66,372 | 18.09% | £11,993 |
| 16/06/2025 | £447,891 | £14,755 | 3.41% | £26,748 |
| 16/07/2025 | £474,068 | £26,177 | 5.84% | £52,925 |
| 16/08/2025 | £490,406 | £16,338 | 3.45% | £69,263 |
| 16/09/2025 | £510,518 | £20,112 | 4.10% | £89,375 |
| 16/10/2025 | £533,165 | £22,647 | 4.44% | £112,022 |
| Yearly | 29.49% | £112,022 |
Trump is at it again
President Donald Trump’s latest escalation in the US-China trade war announcing new 100% tariffs on Chinese imports triggered a sharp global sell-off on Friday, wiping $2 trillion from stocks and sending major indices like the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq down between 2% and 3.5%. Markets and analysts expect heightened volatility when trading resumes on Monday, with investors bracing for further downside as the news is digested and uncertainty remains high.
What’s Likely to Happen Monday?
- Most financial commentators anticipate more downside for share prices at the open, as futures markets and technical signals point to increased volatility and anxiety.
- Some stocks are now in oversold territory by technical measures, which in past tariff escalations created short-term rebounds later in the week as markets adjusted to the policy and, sometimes, to signs of negotiation.
- There’s also hope among some investors that this steep sell-off is partly a “negotiating move”; similar sell-offs earlier this year were later reversed as diplomatic efforts or partial tariff rollbacks calmed investors.
Should Investors Brace for a Crash?
- While Monday could see a further initial dip, a full market crash is not universally expected. Much depends on whether additional retaliatory actions or conciliatory statements come from either side, and on how investors interpret Trump’s intent.
- Defensive stocks, like retailers and consumer staples, sometimes gain in these environments as investors shift toward perceived safety.
My Outlook
The general view among market strategists and technical analysts is similar to mine as I see further declines are likely at the start of the week, but there is potential for a rebound if negotiations resume or if investors view the dip as a buying opportunity. The situation is very fluid, and while a crash is possible if rhetoric escalates, the base case for many is a drop followed by at least a partial recovery by week’s end.
Remaining vigilant makes sense, but sudden rebounds are common during US-China trade standoffs, especially if diplomatic signals shift or if selling pressure exhausts itself and value investors step in.