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4 Sep 2023

The largest automakers in the world by market cap

As highlighted by Oktay Kavrak, CFA, the largest US firm is only number 10. There is also an interesting (still relatively unknown) newcomer: VINFAST, a car brand from Vietnam. The stock is up nearly 700% since going public on the Nasdaq and - at least briefly - became the 3rd biggest automaker in the world and at one point was worth more than Boeing, Disney and Goldman Sachs. What is also notable is that VINFAST is not profitable yet. Moreover, the number of cars is still pretty low: 24,000 in 2022 (vs. millions for the more traditional automakers or Tesla). Source Chart: Leverage Shares

1 Sep 2023

Three steps to investing heaven…

Source - Investing for Growth by Terry Smith thru Vishal Khandelwal

1 Sep 2023

China's holdings of US Treasuries just reached its lowest level in 14 years

Now down almost $481B from peak levels. Source: Crescat Capital, Bloomberg

1 Sep 2023

China Uses Another Tool to Aid Yuan in String of Market Support – Bloomberg

China moved to support the yuan by increasing the supply of foreign currency in its local market, part of a multi-pronged effort by Beijing to restore confidence amid sluggish growth. Financial institutions will need to hold just 4% of their foreign-exchange deposits in reserve starting Sept. 15, the People’s Bank of China said Friday, compared to the current level of 6%. The greater availability of overseas currency relative to the yuan effectively boosts the allure of the latter. The so-called FX RRR cut came on the heels of Thursday’s reduction in down payments for mortgages to help the country’s under-pressure residential property market and after policymakers lowered stamp duty for stock trading over the weekend. The combination of supportive measures is a sign that Beijing is growing uncomfortable with increasing pessimism in its financial markets.

1 Sep 2023

Despite surging mortage rates, US home prices are RISING to ALL-TIME-HIGHS

Higher rates are having an INVERSE effect on price. Rather than prices falling with higher rates, they are actually rising. Why is this happening? As explained by The Kobeissi Letter, as rates rise, existing home sales are falling, now down 16.6% at their lowest since 2010. Borrowers are locked-in to sub-3% mortgages and do not want to sell their homes to get a 2.5x higher rate. We need LOWER rates for LOWER prices... Truly a historic occurrence... Source: FRED, The Kobeissi Letter

1 Sep 2023

After rising ~$3,000 on the Grayscale news, prices just fell $1,000 in a matter on minutes

In less than a day, Bitcoin has shed nearly all the gains it made from Grayscale Investment's court victory against the United States Securities regulator. On Aug. 29, Bitcoin popped to a two-week high after a judge ruled that the Securities and Exchange Commission was “arbitrary and capricious” when it rejected Grayscale’s spot Bitcoin ETF application. However, the SEC’s Aug. 31 decision to delay seven pending spot Bitcoin ETF applications sent Bitcoin’s price downward — falling nearly 5% in the 24 hours to 12 am UTC Sep. 1. This could brutal move coud also be a sign of drying liquidity in the market. This is indeed the 4th "flash-crash" happening on bitcoin this year Source: Cointelegraph, The Kobeissi Letter

1 Sep 2023

The KBW Bank Index fell by 8.8% in August, the weakest bank in the index is Citi with a -13.4% decline

Source: Bloomberg, HolgerZ

1 Sep 2023

The world's richest universities

💰Of the 25 wealthiest schools worldwide🌍, only 2 are not from the United States. 💰As of 2022, the University of Texas System had an endowment value of $69 B, making it the wealthiest university in the world🤑. Source: Genuine Impact / Chris Quinn

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