Become a Better Investor Newsletter – 16 May 2026
Noteworthy this week
- Nasdaq’s historic melt-up
- US inflation is back
- Korean DRAM prices hit a record US$64,000/kg
- Copper hits a new record high
- Japan’s 10-year yield hits a 29-year high
Nasdaq’s historic melt-up: Its 10-year return now exceeds the Dow in the Roaring 20s, the S&P 500 in the 50s, and Japan in the 80s, and is closing in on its own 90s tech boom.
The Nasdaq 100 now has a higher return over the past 10 years than:
Japan in the 1980s
The Dow in the Roaring 20s
The S&P in the 1950sStill trails the 1990s tech run but it’s close
Is this it?
Is the melt-up here?
How much crazier could it get?https://t.co/ZjvVrxtq1S pic.twitter.com/nMxVKACQfC
— Ben Carlson (@awealthofcs) May 11, 2026
US inflation is back: CPI hit 3.8% in April, the highest since May 2023, overtaking the 3.6% Fed funds rate. With inflation likely heading above 4%, the Fed may once again be behind the curve.
US CPI Inflation Rate moved up to 3.8% in April, its highest level since May 2023. The Inflation Rate is now back above the Fed Funds Rate and CPI is likely headed above 4%. The Fed is once again behind the curve and should be hiking interest rates. pic.twitter.com/kIpBFM9q7t
— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) May 12, 2026
Korean DRAM prices hit a record US$64,000/kg: Export unit prices have more than doubled since the start of 2025, driven by huge demand for AI servers and tight supply of high-bandwidth memory.
Korean DRAM export prices just hit $64,000 per kilogram. The same chip sold for under $11,000 a year ago.
The hockey stick is what AI is doing to the global memory market.
HBM and conventional DRAM are built on the same fab lines. Every wafer SK Hynix and Samsung dedicate to… pic.twitter.com/UVnMH31wvF
— Aakash Gupta (@aakashgupta) May 11, 2026
Copper hits a new record high: Prices are surging on strong demand for data center construction, supply disruptions at major mines, and rising input costs.
From the Wall Street Journal:
“Copper prices notched a new record high Monday, rising on strong demand for data-center construction, supply disruptions at one of the world’s largest mines and surging input costs.”#economy #markets #inflation #copper @WSJ pic.twitter.com/34FtoWYUeT— Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) May 11, 2026
Japan’s 10-year yield hits a 29-year high: As Japanese bond yields rise and a BOJ rate hike gets priced in, Japan’s investors have less reason to keep buying US Treasuries, with potential knock-on effects for global borrowing costs.
🚨The cheapest money in the world just got more expensive.
The entire global financial system borrowed it.
Japan’s 10-year bond yield just hit 2.564%, for the first time this century.
Japan is one of the largest holders of U.S. Treasury bonds in the world. As Japanese yields… pic.twitter.com/S1EClaW4r2
— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) May 12, 2026
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Weekly market performance
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Podcasts we listened to this week
IBKR Podcasts | Thailand: Sick man of Asia or sleeping giant?
“Elizaveta Gridneva speaks with Andrew Stotz about whether Thailand is truly the “Sick Man of Asia” or a sleeping giant hiding in plain sight. Andrew breaks down the country’s macro pressures, market structure, and valuation signals to explore whether Thailand is nearing a turning point for investors.”
Readings this week
The Intellectual Edge | What do turkeys, camels, dams, and sandpiles have in common?
Exploring the logic of nonlinearity, where a single grain of sand triggers an avalanche, and why “not expecting surprises” is a dangerous oxymoron in the markets.
Memes of the week
No further comments pic.twitter.com/RtzQTEOkyY
— Andreas Steno Larsen (@AndreasSteno) May 7, 2026
How’s your 2026 so far… pic.twitter.com/7KwYwwnNnt
— LightUpTheDarkness (@CDN_Patriots) May 7, 2026
Published on Become a Better Investor this week
PRTR Group Public Company Limited (PRTR TB): Profitable Growth rank of 2 was same compared to the prior period’s 2nd rank. This is World Class performance compared to 1,110 medium Industrials companies worldwide.
Read PRTR Group– World Class Benchmarking
2S Metal Public Company Limited (2S TB): Profitable Growth rank of 3 was up compared to the prior period’s 8th rank. This is above average performance compared to 660 medium Materials companies worldwide.
Read 2S Metal – World Class Benchmarking
K&K Superstore Southern Public Company Limited (KK TB): Profitable Growth rank of 3 was up compared to the prior period’s 5th rank. This is above average performance compared to 280 small Cons. Staples companies worldwide.
Read K&K Superstore Southern – World Class Benchmarking
ND Rubber Public Company Limited (ARIP TB): Profitable Growth rank of 4 was down compared to the prior period’s 3rd rank. This is above average performance compared to 760 small Cons. Disc. companies worldwide.
Read ND Rubber – World Class Benchmarking
Performance review of our strategies in April 2026 – All Weather Inflation Guard gained 2.8%, All Weather Strategy gained 6.9%, All Weather Alpha Focus gained 6.8%.
Read A. Stotz All Weather Strategies – April 2026
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.