2024 has been a year of growth for me. Through my investment experiences, I’ve learned that investing requires patience and perseverance, not just skills. Market fluctuations made me anxious, but I’ve learned to stay calm. In the past, I often made impulsive decisions due to short-term swings, but this year, I realized that a long-term perspective is key to success. I also learned the importance of emotional management. Investing isn’t just about numbers; it’s about controlling emotions. Market volatility and outside opinions can affect my reactions. Staying calm and making rational decisions has been crucial to my progress. When I feel anxious, I remind myself to analyze situations carefully and avoid emotional decisions. These lessons have helped me succeed in investing and improve my em

The Federal Reserve's hawkish signals have weakened global market sentiment. 🇺🇸 S&P 500 Index: -0.09% 📉 🇺🇸 Nasdaq Index: -0.10% 📉 🇪🇺 Stoxx 600 Index: -1.51% 📉 🇯🇵 Nikkei 225 Index: -0.69% 📉 🇭🇰 Hang Seng Index: -0.56% 📉 🇨🇳 CSI 300 Index: +0.09% 📈 🇸🇬 Straits Times Index: -0.44% 📉 Wall Street closed flat, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index both down by -0.1%. The previous day, the Federal Reserve forecast a lower-than-expected rate cut and warned of rising inflation next year, severely impacting the U.S. stock market. U.S. Q3 2024 GDP growth was 3.1%, above the previous forecast of 2.8%, driven by increased consumer spending and exports, indicating the economy is still growing strongly. For the week ending December 14, U.S. initial jobless claims dropped significantly by 22K t

2024 Market Recap: 2024 had an interesting start. It was a rocky beginning, but the market picked up significant momentum as the year progressed. The rally really took off following Trump's re-election, boosting investor sentiment across various sectors.  The standout sectors of the year definitely belonged to AI, quantum computing, and Trump or Musk related themes.  The AI boom, fueled by technological advancements and massive investments, especially from companies like Nvidia, truly dominated the market.  Quantum computing, still in its early stages, also captured attention as companies in this space pushed forward with new breakthroughs.  Meanwhile, Trump and Musk-related stocks, particularly in electric vehicles and innovation, benefited from ongoing political and t

I believe it's completely normal and healthy for the market to experience a pullback and correction after several weeks of a rally. The market can't keep climbing indefinitely without taking a breather. These corrections are actually necessary for long-term stability, allowing the market to reset and prepare for the next phase of growth. The rally we've seen was strong, and it’s only natural that we would see some consolidation after such a run-up. This isn't the end; rather, it’s just a temporary pause as we prepare for the next potential rally in the future. As for the Christmas rally, I believe it has already run its course for 2024. The rally kicked off earlier this year, and while it had a strong start, it seems that we’ve already seen the peak for this period. The combination of hawk

Looking back on my investments in 2024, $Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc.(FFIE)$ stands out as my biggest regret. I nearly faced a total loss with this stock, which taught me a hard lesson about choosing investments carefully. At the time, I thought diversifying into companies like FFIE and $NIO Inc.(NIO)$ in the EV sector would be a smart move. But now, I realize I should have just focused on $Tesla Motors(TSLA)$. Faraday Future struggled with production delays and financial issues, leading to poor stock performance. While th

After the Federal Reserve's rate cut, Wall Street plummeted, signaling that the pace of easing will slow in 2025. The Chinese stock market rebounded as Beijing proposed measures to release the value of state-owned enterprises. 🇺🇸 S&P 500 Index: -2.95% 📉 🇺🇸 Nasdaq: -3.56% 📉 🇪🇺 STOXX 600 Index: 0.15% 📈 🇯🇵 Nikkei 225 Index: -0.72% 📉 🇭🇰 Hang Seng: 0.83% 📈 🇨🇳 CSI 300: 0.51% 📈 🇸🇬 Straits Times Index: -0.53% 📉 The U.S. stock market plummeted, with the S&P 500 Index $S&P 500(.SPX)$   and Nasdaq Composite Index $NASDAQ(.IXIC)$  falling by -3.0% and -3.6%, respectively, after the Federal Reserve cut rates by 25 basis points, but indicated a more cautious easing path for ne

I believe TikTok's future in the U.S. is uncertain and could go either way. The recent developments, like the meeting between TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and former President Trump, give me some hope that the platform might survive. Trump's comments about having a "soft spot" for TikTok suggest that there might be some leeway, but the looming deadline for ByteDance to sell the app or face a ban adds a layer of tension. For me, TikTok has become an essential part of my daily routine. It’s not just about entertainment; the app is a place where I discover trends, stay informed, and connect with a community. If TikTok were to be banned in the Singapore, I’d definitely miss it. While I also use other entertainment apps like Instagram and Netflix, none of them offer the same experience in terms of s

Risk aversion dominates the market ahead of the Federal Reserve decision, global stock markets decline 🇺🇸 S&P 500 Index: -0.39% 📉 🇺🇸 Nasdaq Index: -0.32% 📉 🇪🇺 Stoxx 600 Index: -0.42% 📉 🇯🇵 Nikkei 225 Index: -0.24% 📉 🇭🇰 Hang Seng Index: -0.48% 📉 🇨🇳 CSI 300 Index: +0.26% 📈 🇸🇬 Straits Times Index: -0.55% 📉 U.S. stock markets decline in unison, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index falling -0.4% and -0.3%, respectively, as investors await the last Federal Reserve policy meeting of the year, with a 25 basis point rate cut widely expected. U.S. November retail sales growth exceeded expectations, rising from 2.9% to 3.8% year-on-year, as households increased spending on automobiles and online goods, aligning with strong underlying economic momentum. U.S. November industrial productio

Elon Musk has had a standout year, especially with Tesla’s remarkable turnaround. Despite early challenges in 2024, Musk’s strategic moves, such as price cuts and innovations in autonomous driving, helped Tesla rebound and become one of the year’s top performers. His leadership extends beyond Tesla, influencing sectors like AI and space, solidifying his status as a key financial figure. Donald Trump, while not directly running a company, has also shaped markets with his political influence. His rhetoric and potential return to power have created an economic climate favorable to stocks like Tesla and Bitcoin. His pro-business stance, including deregulation, has fueled optimism in tech and small-cap stocks, benefiting investors across sectors. Together, Musk and Trump have reshaped the marke

Market expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut drove Wall Street higher, while disappointing economic data led to a decline in Chinese stocks. 🇺🇸 S&P 500 Index: +0.38% 📈 🇺🇸 Nasdaq Index: +1.24% 📈 🇪🇺 Stoxx 600 Index: -0.12% 📉 🇯🇵 Nikkei 225 Index: -0.03% 📉 🇭🇰 Hang Seng Index: -0.88% 📉 🇨🇳 Shanghai Shenzhen 300 Index: -0.54% 📉 🇸🇬 Straits Times Index: +0.28% 📈 The U.S. stock market rose on Monday, with the S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq Composite Index gaining 0.4% and 1.2%, respectively. Investors digested the latest economic data while awaiting the Federal Reserve's final policy statement of the year to gauge future interest rate movements. The U.S. S&P Global December Flash PMI showed that service sector activity further climbed (Services PMI: 56.6 vs. 55.1 consensus and 54.9 p

NASDAQ hits record high on strong chip stock performance; Chinese stock market drops due to disappointing economic policy meeting. 🇺🇸 S&P 500 Index: 0.00% 📈 🇺🇸 NASDAQ Index: 0.12% 📈 🇪🇺 STOXX 600 Index: -0.53% 📉 🇯🇵 Nikkei 225 Index: -0.95% 📉 🇭🇰 Hang Seng Index: -2.09% 📉 🇨🇳 CSI 300 Index: -2.37% 📉 🇸🇬 Straits Times Index: 0.03% 📈 U.S. markets mixed, with the S&P 500 index closing flat, while the NASDAQ composite index rose 0.1%, mainly led by Broadcom. Investors are awaiting guidance on interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Japan's Bank of Japan Large Manufacturer Index (Tankan Survey) rose slightly from 13 in the previous periods to 14 in Q4 2024, contrary to market expectations of 12. Eurozone industrial production fell 1.20% year-on-year in October 2024 (forecast was -1.9%),

My top pick would definitely be $Alibaba(09988)$. As a frequent user of Taobao, Alibaba has become an essential part of my daily routine. Shopping on Taobao allows me to access a vast array of products at significantly lower prices compared to what I would pay locally in Singapore. Whether it's electronics, clothing, or household items, the discounts and variety available on the platform make it a go-to for almost everything I need. Additionally, Alibaba's ecosystem extends beyond just shopping. It offers services for cloud computing and even entertainment, all of which are integrated seamlessly into daily life. The convenience of having all these services under one platform is something I greatly appreciate, especially when I can access items a