This worked in the late 1970s, sort of... The trick was to find companies with assets that would benefit from the hyperinflation. Oil, coal, minerals. These all increase in value during inflation so the common stock acts as an inflation hedge. I suppose stocks could be rising these days as cash moves to equities. But, beware. Picking stocks in companies that are hurt by inflation will cost you plenty in capital losses. You need to chose wisely if you want the stock market to protect you from inflation. I BOT Alcoa recently because they control lots of Aluminum and the emerging world, according to those Coca Cola commercials from the 1970s, will be drinking lots of pop in cans! I'll be rich!!!!!!!!!!!
As an active trader, I suggest that given the extreme volatility in the markets today, and the worsening economic conditions, it is damn risky to play long term “buy and hold” at this time. Time and time again, I’ve seen stocks get hammered overnight because some talking head idiot ran off at the mouth in front of a camera. At this point, I rarely hold overnight, preferring to be in cash at days end. No one knows when the bottom will drop out of this current bear rally — if you’re holding when (not if) the freefall happens, you’re dead meat. If trading’s not your thing, than physical gold and maybe silver is where it’s at for the time being. Look at the gold charts over the last 5 years and you’ll see why.