Whether bears are prowling or bulls are ruling, stay with 9 basic principles, irrespective of your time horizon of investing

Each time there is a correction, especially one that lasts a few months like the current one, investors get divided into two distinct sets. The first justifies buying wrong stocks by calling themselves “long-term investors”. The rest, genuine long-term investors, will remain focused on buying the correct business. Now what is a “correct business”? Simple: One with a track record of growth; one that does not require constant doses of capital; and where income is shared with investors in the form of dividends. So, today, when headlines are dominated by Trump and how much the Nifty and mid-cap index have fallen, it is time to go back to some investing basics. They will help you avoid taking decisions under the pressure of daily headlines.