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Become a Better Investor Newsletter – 13 September 2025

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Noteworthy this week

  • Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia are 17.5% of the US stock market
  • Energy is only 3% of the US stock market
  • Gold sets new records
  • Record jobs numbers revision
  • US$7 trillion on the sidelines

Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia are 17.5% of the US stock market: This share has doubled over the last 5 years. These 3 companies are now worth a whopping US$11.8 trillion. Furthermore, they are the only companies to have ever surpassed US$3 trillion in market cap, with Nvidia exceeding US$4.4 trillion.

Energy is only 3% of the US stock market: As the Tech concentration reaches new heights, Energy is approaching all-time lows in S&P 500 sector weights. A contrarian play?

Gold sets new records: Another week, another all-time high in the gold price. As noted, correlations aren’t static and break down at times.

Record jobs numbers revision: The huge downward revision means that the US economy has probably not been as strong as suggested. It also means that the Fed could have based its decision on erroneous data.

US$7 trillion on the sidelines: Money market mutual fund assets are at a record US$7.3 trillion. So, there’s a lot of cautious dry powder that could find itself to the stock market if interest rates are cut.

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Weekly market performance

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Chart of the week

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Podcasts we listened to this week

Ray Dalio – The Diary Of A CEO

“Ray Dalio turned $5 into $160 billion by decoding how empires rise and fall. Now he warns: America is in decline, the UK is in trouble, China is gaining power…and your wealth could be in danger UNLESS you act fast.”

Listen on Apple or Spotify.

Readings this week

Dr. Frankenstein’s Benchmark: The S&P 500 Index and the Observer Paradox

“The most popular understanding of the U.S. stock market is the S&P 500 Index (SP5) of leading U.S. companies. While SP5’s growth and prominence over the past half-century is well known, few market observers stop to ask basic questions: Why was it created? What need did it fill? What has happened since? And most importantly, is it still fit for purpose? That last question is the focus of this essay..”

Read the article.

Book recommendation

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

“Here we meet fifteen-year-old runaway Kafka Tamura and the elderly Nakata, who is drawn to Kafka for reasons that he cannot fathom. As their paths converge, acclaimed author Haruki Murakami enfolds readers in a world where cats talk, fish fall from the sky, and spirits slip out of their bodies to make love or commit murder, in what is a truly remarkable journey.”

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

Ep811: Dan Novaes – The Treasury Strategy That Cost $100 Million

BIO: As Co-Founder & CEO of Mode Mobile, Dan Novaes is leading the transformation of how people interact with technology. His “Earn As You Go” software empowers millions of consumers to turn daily habits into passive income.

STORY: Dan decided to take the bold move of turning his treasury into a long-term crypto strategy. What started as $2 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum ballooned to $30 million, but the 2022 crash and business pressures forced him to liquidate at low prices—missing out on what could have been a $100 million windfall.

LEARNING: Don’t chase aggressive expansion without a clear path to profitability. Stick to your core business. Separate your business from speculative bets.

Access the episode’s show notes and resources

Published on Become a Better Investor this week

Step into a treasure trove of rare stories, photos, and audio clips as Bill Scherkenbach shares his decades with Dr. Deming. From boardrooms to sleigh rides, discover the moments, minds, and memories that shaped modern quality thinking, told by someone who lived it. A powerful blend of insight, humor, and history you won’t want to miss.

Listen to Rare Photos and Fresh Stories: An Insider’s View of Deming’s World (Part 2)

Centrica PLC (CNA LN): Profitable Growth rank of 3 was same compared to the prior period’s 3rd rank. This is above average performance compared to 320 large Utilities companies worldwide.

Read Centrica – World Class Benchmarking

Bumi Armada Berhad (BAB MK): Profitable Growth rank of 3 was up compared to the prior period’s 4th rank. This is above average performance compared to 170 medium Energy companies worldwide.

Read Bumi Armada – World Class Benchmarking

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS TB): Profitable Growth rank of 3 was same compared to the prior period’s 3rd rank. This is above average performance compared to 380 large Health Care companies worldwide.

Read Bangkok Dusit Medical Services – World Class Benchmarking

China and Gold outperformed. Performance review of our strategies in August 2025 – All Weather Inflation Guard gained 0.3%, All Weather Strategy gained 1.7%, All Weather Alpha Focus gained 3.3%.

Read A. Stotz All Weather Strategies – August 2025

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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