Shutterstock

Last year was one of the worst ever in the history of the Polish investment fund sector. The majority of Polish investment funds suffered significant losses, in some cases even exceeding 40 percent on the year, Parkiet wrote.

According to estimates, investors withdrew almost zł.2.5 billion from investment funds. Only 2008 saw more investors fleeing from funds (zł.29 billion withdrawn). Participants of Polish equity funds lost an average of 23 percent of their savings last year.

During the year, the Warsaw Stock Exchange’s broad-market WIG index slumped by some 21 percent. Bond funds, however, were doing much better, with average gains of 4.8 percent.

Experts spoken to by Parkiet are cautious about any forecasts for 2012. Many say that the best strategy for the coming months is to wait out the turmoil on stock markets, which might last until the second half of the year. In the meantime, they recommend investing money in safer assets.

Poland A.M.