What’s new
Administrative topics and an introduction
Well folks, we’re back! If not only in a planning phase. I’ve been taking the last two weeks to really think about Market Madness and reader feedback, the newsletter biz at large, and the landscape of the financial industry. It’s been a lot. Kudos to some really good friends (Michael, Charlie, and Cait) who’ve been helping me think out my next steps. This is not a ‘goodbye’ or an ‘I quit.’ However, I do not want to put out something that I am not feeling most passionate about. So, we’re going to pivot.
Did you miss the last edition? No worries! Get it right here and catch up on the madness.
Fundamentals
Where did the markets end last week?
U.S. Indices 5 Day Performance
Dow Jones: -0.50%
S&P 500: +0.02%
NASDAQ: -0.39%
Asia and Europe 5 Day Performance
Nikkei 225: -0.72%
Hang Seng: -1.22%
FTSE 100: +0.45%
DAX: -0.94%
Rates, Spot Prices, and ‘Good to Knows’
Market Madness Portfolio: +0.59%
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): 18.61
US 10 YR: 1.625%
Crude OIL: $63.49
Spot Gold: $1,768.76
TEDRATE: 0.15
LIBOR (3 month): 0.17563%
U.S. Dollar Index: 91.297
EUR/USD: $1.2019
Pound/USD: $1.3813
USD/JPY: 109.3180 JPY
USD/CNY: 6.4730 CNY
What’s going on?
We’re going to pivot! I’m not sure where the pivot is going to take us yet, but I am interested in making this discovery together. What I’ve come to realize is that Market Madness did really well at summarizing the market news over the week. But, coincidentally enough, so does Bloomberg, Axios, MarketWatch, CNBC, WSJ, and the list goes on. What I feel would be better and more interesting is if we start taking some creative leaps, invoke hot takes, and make predictions on where we’re heading.
Part of my current ‘dismay’ if you’d like to call it would be the rise of alternative investments like crypto and NFTs and the ‘meme stock’ community. It has jumped the fence on its pretty little sandbox and has taken over the headlines within the investing community at large.
I’d consider myself a traditional financial capitalist. I look at company filings and strategies, and market news and activity on stocks, bonds, and currencies. I do not pay much mind to the current trends in finance. Part of this, as I’ve come to realize, is that this subset of the financial industry has a branding challenge that many of my peers more intimate with the industry will address.
I find it to be that same mindset and branding that has infiltrated into what we are now calling the ‘reddit’ or ‘meme stock’ parade. There is a large wave of individual investors coming in and treating the markets like a casino. There’s been a lot of fortunate and ‘fast money’ made in the past several months. These investors have not yet seen the tide come out on them yet. The major news outlets seem to be propagating it more by also providing continuous coverage this wave, and trying to find what comes next (i.e. the next GameStop). This whole area has always disinterested me, and I think that is okay. I’ve opened my eyes to these areas and am willing to learn about them, but I do not see myself being one to cover those topics in any level of depth. Of course, I can mention the one-off situation where I think there is value in bringing up, but not giving it center stage.
All of that is to say that I feel a bit disconnected from the markets right now. I’ve lost my tuning with the buzz of the markets; it happens. These past two weeks have been good for me to try and rekindle the flame, the interest, the excitement for the markets, which has been increasingly difficult since the relative calamity of the early 2020 months has since subsided and the large news events week-to-week were relatively small or inconsequential.
Moving forward
I am going to continue re-evaluating my plan moving forward for Market Madness. I am in good hands in terms of support and guidance and I know that what I continue to deliver will be of the highest quality.
My current thought is that I will continue posting smaller ‘bits’ and ideas over on my Bookshlf page. This is my daily touchpoint with financial and market news where I post a few articles and my comments on them. It’s a great community over there, if you’re not already involved. I will also find some way to integrate the newsletter here with the posts over there, so even if you only check in here, you still get the content.
As for the posts here, I’d like to do some trend analysis, finding and discussing ideas that I think will be longer term thoughts and influences in the financial world. Now and again, I’d like to do some single company research and analysis as well as industry trends and the like.
For those who did come specifically for the weekly recaps, have no fear! I’ve befriended some of the best daily and weekly analysts I know who are in it for the long haul - you will be in good hands.
Mr. Buyside - Daily Market Overviews
Investment Talk (Occasio Capital) - Market Talk Weekly Overviews
Everything else under the sun can be found on the Behind the Madness page and the A Series of Financial Musings page.
General Banter
What’s on the minds of our editors and writers
Since this whole edition has been banter, I will spare you any more trouble.
Reader’s Corner
A place for suggestions for readers like you
The reader might enjoy this bits of unsolicited advice.
What I’m Reading:
Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues [for education]
The Deep [for interest]
Well done. You’ve made it through the madness. I’ve worked hard to ensure that you leave this page having learned something, and I hope that it benefits you in your daily adventure. Thank you again for checking in.