As US president Donald Trump engineers a global share price meltdown, most investors are running for cover.

They're ripping money out of stocks and shifting it into traditional safe havens such as cash, bonds and gold.

This seems like the sensible thing to do – but with global stock markets down 10% to 15%, now isn’t the ideal time to sell. It means crystallising what are otherwise paper losses.

There is an alternative course of action, but it's just as risky. And that’s to take advantage of falling stock markets to BUY shares instead.

Some investors see plummeting share prices are the equivalent of the Boxing Day sales - a chance to grab quality stocks at knockdown prices.

Right now, there are bargains everywhere as Trump's trade tariffs spread panic.

London's FTSE 100 dropped 10% in a week, with big names like BP and St James's Place down as much as 20%.

Across the Atlantic, it's worse.

The benchmark US S&P 500 index is down 15% this year and the Nasdaq technology index has plunged 20%. Chip maker Nvidia is down 30%, while Elon Musk's Tesla has slumped almost 40%.

So instead of selling shares, is now the time to buy them instead?

It's tempting to dive in. When share prices fall fast, they often recover just as quickly, and long-term investors may reap the rewards.

There's a catch. Nobody rings a bell when markets hit the bottom.

Even seasoned investors rarely time it perfectly. You might buy just before the next leg down.

That's why patience is key. If you invest now, do it with a minimum five-to-10-year view.

Don't expect a quick bounce either, this volatility could last for months, or even years.

As US investment legend Warren Buffett famously put it, investors should "be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful".

There's no shortage of fear - but don't get too greedy. The biggest risk is assuming that everything cheap must be good value. Some shares are down for good reason.

Selling in a panic isn't a great strategy either. If you sell now, you turn temporary losses into permanent ones.

Markets tend to recover - but only if you stay in them.

The safest plan? Don't bet the house on anything. Spread your risk, hold some cash for emergencies, and avoid piling into any one sector.

Diversification is your best defence when markets are rocky.

If still unsure, consider drip-feeding in your investments, rather than investing a lump all at once. That way, you reduce risk of getting the timing badly wrong.

If you already invest monthly, don't cancel that direct debit. Your monthly contribution will pick up more shares, at today's lower price. You'll get more dividends too.

So yes, this could be a good time to invest, if you're calm, clear-headed and focused on the long term.

If you simply want to make a quick profit be warned - you could end up making an instant loss instead.