💰 Maniac Minute: "Uptober" Propels Coinbase Higher

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Good morning, Maniacs!

It’s been a whirlwind week in the market—Coinbase is on a high, ASML’s outlook is sinking, and gold has reached new heights. We’ve got the scoop on who’s up, who’s down, and how to avoid those common investing pitfalls. Let’s get into it!

Market Recap 📈

Stocks posted their sixth straight week of gains as tech continues to power Wall Street higher. Gold also glimmered, crossing the $2,700 mark for the first time ever as investors flock to safe havens.

Meanwhile, oil prices slumped. Weak economic signals from China and reassurances from Israel against targeting key Iranian sites eased worries about supply disruptions.

Winners & Losers 🚀

The market played favorites last week—here’s who came out on top and who got left in the dust:

Winners

1. Coinbase ($COIN) – Market Cap: $50.7B (+24.3%)
Coinbase is celebrating the return of “Uptober” as Bitcoin edges closer to all-time highs. Bitcoin ETFs had a huge week of inflows, pushing total net flows past the $20 billion mark—6x faster than gold reached that milestone. As the custodian for ETFs like iShares Bitcoin and Ethereum Trust, Coinbase is capturing investors' attention—and dollars.

2. United Airlines ($UAL) – Market Cap: $24.1B (+21.7%)
United Airlines took off after delivering a strong Q3 earnings report and announcing a hefty $1.5 billion stock buyback program. Despite its busiest September ever, United's strategy of selling fewer seats paid off big time. Analysts are upping their price targets, praising the airline's shift from defense to offense. Clear skies ahead for United.

3. Blackstone ($BX) – Market Cap: $207.3B (+13.9%)
Blackstone soared to an all-time high after reporting a 41.5% jump in Q3 net income and a nearly 10% increase in assets under management, now topping $1.11 trillion. The investment giant is reaping rewards from strong inflows, especially in its credit and insurance unit.

4. Taiwan Semiconductor ($TSM) – Market Cap: $1.07T (+10.8%)
TSMC's chips are hot, and so is its stock. The world's largest contract chipmaker reported a 54% rise in net profit and raised its 2024 revenue growth target to 30%. With surging demand for AI-related chips from tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, TSMC is powering up for a strong finish to the year.

Losers

1. ASML ($ASML) – Market Cap: $275.6B (-16.0%)
ASML's stock plunged after accidentally leaking its earnings a day early. The semiconductor equipment giant lowered its revenue guidance for 2025 and disclosed that net bookings were less than half of expectations. Although AI demand remains strong, the company is seeing a slower than expected recovery in other areas of technology.

2. Chinese Stocks – Pinduoduo ($PDD) -13.9%; Baidu ($BIDU) -9.1%; JD.com ($JD) -8.8%
Chinese stocks stumbled as stimulus optimism faded. Investors questioned whether Beijing's recent measures would be enough to revive the struggling economy, leading to sharp declines across the board. The potential for renewed tariff battles if Trump wins the upcoming election only adds to the uncertainty.

Costly Investing Mistakes To Avoid (Part 2) ⚠️

5. Letting Politics Affect Decisions
Markets respond to economic fundamentals, not political drama. It’s tempting to react to every election headline, but history shows that’s a mistake. Markets typically rise in the months following elections—no matter which party wins.

On average, there’s a 4.1% gain to end the year, with markets ending in the green 83% of the time. Don’t let politicians cloud your long-term view—stick to your strategy and focus on the real market drivers.

6. Panic Selling
Market dips can be nerve-wracking, but the worst thing you can do is hit the panic button. Emotional decisions often lead to costly mistakes.

In fact, the best days in the market often come right after the worst. Over the past 20 years, 7 of the 10 best trading days occurred within two weeks of the 10 worst days—think of them as bounce-back opportunities.

If a dip makes you uneasy, ask yourself if anything has fundamentally changed. If the answer is no, stay the course.

7. A Falling Knife Has No Handle
A plummeting stock might look like a bargain, but buying during a freefall is risky—wait for signs of stability. A low price doesn’t always equal value.

Sometimes, a rock-bottom P/E ratio or an unusually high dividend yield is a warning sign, not a hidden gem.

Trump Calls Central Bank Digital Currency 'Very Dangerous'

Trump warns that the Government can CONFISCATE your money through Digital Currency. A Fed-controlled Digital Dollar, he said, "would give our federal Government absolute control over your money. They could take your money, and you wouldn't even know it's gone. This would be a dangerous threat to our freedom."

It's the Greatest System of Control Ever Invented… and it's Closer to Reality Than You Think.

The FDIC Bank list shows 963 banks have officially laid the foundation for Biden's Digital Money Payment System, which the Fed and MIT developed.

"Digital Currencies Created by the Government Are Centralized - Can be Used as a Tool to Surveil Americans' Private Transactions." Sen. Ted Cruz

"Banking giant Morgan Stanley says that central bank digital currencies (Digital Money) may contribute to a shift away from the US dollar."

Forbes said, "Central Bank Digital Currencies are about control—They should be stopped."

Get all the details in this Free Guide today.

Worth The Read 📚

📊 Magnificent Seven Exposure – Tesla is leading the "Magnificent Seven" into earnings season next week. Want to ride the tech giant wave without picking individual stocks? Matt Kaufman shares strategies to get you in the game. [Read here.]

🛑 Canceling Just Got Easier – Tired of jumping through hoops to ditch that subscription? The FTC's new "click to cancel" rule means saying goodbye is now as simple as a click. Streaming services to gym memberships—no more endless holds or hidden pages! [Read here.]

🚀 SpaceX’s Starship Catch – SpaceX just nailed a groundbreaking maneuver, “catching” its Starship booster with chopstick arms as it returned to Earth. This historic landing reduces the cost of space travel, moving us one step closer to Mars. [Read here.]

🪐 Space Stocks Take Off – SpaceX’s precision landing sent a wave through the industry, lifting the fortunes of public space companies. Curious about the next big thing beyond our atmosphere? Investors are tuning into the cosmic buzz. [Read here.]

📈 Trump Trade Returns – Betting markets are swinging in favor of a Trump win, and investors are taking note. From bank stocks to Bitcoin, here's how the "Trump trade" is shaking up portfolios ahead of the election. [Read here.]

The Week Ahead 🔍

Get ready for another action-packed week with major earnings reports, economic data releases, and lots of Fed commentary. Here's what's coming up:

Monday

• Earnings from SAP

• Fed Governors Logan, Kashkari, and Schmid speak

• U.S. leading economic indicators report

Tuesday

• Earnings from GE, Danaher, Philip Morris, Verizon, Texas Instruments, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Fiserv, Sherwin Williams, Moody’s, 3M, Spotify, GM, Kimberly-Clark, and IHG

• Fed Governor Harker speaks

• U.S. Crude Oil Inventory report

Wednesday

• Earnings from Tesla, Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, Thermo Fisher, IBM, Lloyd’s Banking, ServiceNow, NextEra Energy, AT&T, Boston Scientific, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Hilton

• Fed Governors Bowman and Barkin speak

• September's Existing Home Sales (est. 3.9M) and the Fed’s Beige Book (on current economic conditions)

Thursday

• Earnings from Amazon, S&P Global, Union Pacific, Honeywell, UPS, Northrop Grumman, Capital One, Keurig Dr. Pepper, and Southwest Airlines

• Fed Governor Hammack speaks

• Initial Jobless Claims (est. 245k), September New Home Sales (est. 710k), U.S. Manufacturing PMI (est. 48.2), and U.S. Services PMI (est. 54.9)

Friday

• Earnings from Sanofi, HCA Healthcare, and Colgate-Palmolive

• September’s Durable Goods Orders (est. -0.9%) and the final reading of Consumer Sentiment (est. 68.9)

That’s a wrap! Hope you enjoyed the Maniac Minute—we’ll see you next Monday with all the market insights and money tips you need to stay ahead.

Keep stacking,
The Money Maniac 💸

P.S. Got feedback, burning questions, or just want to say hi? Feel free to reply directly to this email!

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets. All opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change without notice. Please do your own research or consult with a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.