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Become a Better Investor Newsletter – 7 December 2024

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Noteworthy this week

  • Bitcoin surpassed US$100K
  • US GDP is 50% larger than the EU’s
  • Data centers drive construction
  • Short-lived martial law in Korea
  • Musk gets socialist support

Bitcoin surpassed US$100K: If you have a friend investing in crypto or you are on any social media platform, you probably haven’t missed this. But in case you did, now you know.

US GDP is 50% larger than the EU’s: In 2008, the US GDP surpassed the EU. Today, the US economy is 50% larger than the EU’s. Europe isn’t doing well.

Data centers drive construction: US construction spending on data centers has accelerated massively in recent years.

Short-lived martial law in Korea: The Korean president declared martial law, but Parliament overturned the ruling within hours. Looking at what has happened to former presidents, I guess there is a reason he doesn’t want to give up power.

Musk gets socialist support: Bernie Sanders says, “Elon Musk is right.” Bernie deserves respect for not letting partisanship stand in the way.

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Weekly market performance

Click here to see more markets and periods.

Chart of the week

Discussed in the Become a Better Investor Community this week

“We just uploaded the performance review and weight update of our Global Asset Allocation Strategy.”

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Podcasts we listened to this week

#2234 – Marc Andreessen – The Joe Rogan Experience

“Marc Andreessen is an entrepreneur, investor, and software engineer. He is co-creator of the world’s first widely used internet browser, Mosaic, cofounder and general partner at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, and cohost of ‘The Ben & Marc Show’ podcast.”

Listen on Apple or Spotify.

Readings this week

After Shock

“Pollsters and pundits assured the public that their new methodologies measured Trump’s support accurately. Tight polls meant a close election that could go either way, and the superior Democrat ground game would tip it in Kamala’s favor. They were wrong, again, the third time in a row.”

Download PDF.

Book recommendation

Investing Amid Low Expected Returns: Making the Most When Markets Offer the Least by Antti Ilmanen

“Investing Amid Low Expected Returns: Making the Most When Markets Offer the Least provides an evidence-based blueprint for successful investing when decades of market tailwinds are turning into headwinds.”

Get the book on Audible or Kindle.

Audible is great; have you tried it? If not, click here to get 2 books for free.

Memes of the week

New My Worst Investment Ever episodes

Ep794: Michael Episcope – Investing Is About How You Behave and Not What You Know

BIO: Michael Episcope is the co-CEO of Origin Investments. He co-chairs its investment committee and oversees investor relations and capital raising.

STORY: Michael invested in a multi-family property in Austin with a friend who had vouched for somebody else. Unbeknownst to Michael, the guy in Austin had taken a loan against his property to save other properties in his portfolio.

LEARNING: Do not justify the red flags because an investment opportunity looks great. Investing is about how you behave and not what you know.

Access the episode’s show notes and resources

Published on Become a Better Investor this week

In this episode, Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz explore the intersection of variation and quality through awareness of the “Paradigms of Variation”. Learn how to decide which paradigm your quality management system fits into!

Listen to Paradigms of Variation: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 7)

KEPCO Plant Service & Engineering Company Limited (051600 KS): Profitable Growth rank of 1 was up compared to the prior period’s 2nd rank. This is World Class performance compared to 1,370 large Industrials companies worldwide.

Read KEPCO Plant Service & Engineering – World Class Benchmarking

PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk (JPFA IJ): Profitable Growth rank of 3 was up compared to the prior period’s 8th rank. This is above average performance compared to 540 large Cons. Staples companies worldwide.

Read Japfa Comfeed Indonesia – World Class Benchmarking

Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited (600535 SH): Profitable Growth rank of 5 was down compared to the prior period’s 1st rank. This is average performance compared to 360 large Health Care companies worldwide.

Read Tasly Pharmaceutical Group – World Class Benchmarking

In November 2024, we published 2 new episodes of the My Worst Investment Ever podcast. Listen to all of them here.

Listen to My Worst Investment Ever November 2024

DISCLAIMER: This content is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Readers should not consider statements made by the author(s) as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, it may include errors or inaccuracies. The author(s) cannot be held liable for any actions taken as a result of reading this article.

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