The hottest Finance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics
QTR’s Fringe Finance β€’ 47 implied HN points β€’ 07 Jan 25
  1. Fartcoin, a joke cryptocurrency, has become surprisingly valuable despite having no real use or worth. It suggests that many current investments are just speculative bets.
  2. The rise of Fartcoin reflects extreme risky behavior in investing, turning financial markets into a sort of gambling game where people chase quick profits without understanding the risks.
  3. The situation hints at deeper issues in the economy, where excessive money printing and lack of market discipline could lead to a significant crash or a loss of confidence in financial systems.
Net Interest β€’ 15 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jan 25
  1. The US stock market has significantly outperformed Europe over the last 15 years, with US stocks providing much higher returns compared to European stocks.
  2. European companies lag behind in major tech innovation, lacking equivalents to successful US companies like Amazon and Google, which has contributed to their slower growth.
  3. Recently, there has been a shift in sentiment among investors towards Europe, with increased interest and consolidation in the asset management industry, indicating potential for future growth.
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Snowball β€’ 727 implied HN points β€’ 04 Feb 24
  1. Apple announces mixed quarterly results, with higher iPhone and wearables sales but lower revenues in China.
  2. ESG funds' popularity drops due to rising interest rates.
  3. Startups like Perplexity and Arc are reshaping internet search with artificial intelligence, possibly challenging Google's traditional method.
inexactscience β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jul 24
  1. Money doesn't always equal happiness. Many studies show mixed results, suggesting other factors play a big role.
  2. People have different values around work and leisure. This means that income may not always reflect happiness for everyone.
  3. Surveys on money and happiness can be tricky. The way they ask questions may not capture the real relationship between income and how people feel.
Spilled Coffee β€’ 52 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jan 25
  1. The percentage of American households investing in stocks is at an all-time high, showing strong interest in the stock market. Many people now understand how important it is to invest for their future.
  2. Over half of Americans believe stock prices will keep rising. This can be seen as optimistic, but some worry it's a sign that the market may soon turn downward.
  3. Educational efforts around investing have improved, making it easier for people to understand the importance of stocks. This is helping more individuals make informed investment decisions.
Irina Slav on energy β€’ 864 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jan 24
  1. French government banning oil and gas investments in certain sustainable funds may set a precedent for future regulations.
  2. The rigorous certification process for ESG labels includes evaluating impact indicators like CO2 emissions and renewable energy output.
  3. Investors may face challenges if funds in different countries have conflicting preferences for including oil and gas stocks in ESG portfolios.
Investment Talk β€’ 707 implied HN points β€’ 06 Feb 24
  1. Benchmarking can be a humbling but necessary process for investors to evaluate their performance relative to others.
  2. Choosing a benchmark is crucial for measuring investment success, considering time, effort, and opportunity costs involved in managing a portfolio.
  3. Fund managers and advisors use benchmarks for various reasons like performance evaluation, risk assessment, and ensuring accountability to clients.
C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. β€’ 18 implied HN points β€’ 19 Jan 25
  1. Canada has a lot of valuable resources and talent, but many Canadians are struggling with homelessness. This is partly because their economy is being affected by how the US operates.
  2. The Canadian dollar is tied too closely to the US dollar, making it harder for Canada to sell its goods at fair prices. This creates issues for Canadian businesses and workers.
  3. Many Canadians are frustrated with American influence and feel it's time to focus more on their own economy and products. This could lead to significant changes in how Canada interacts with American businesses.
Snaxshot β€’ 419 implied HN points β€’ 29 Apr 24
  1. Market turmoil: Companies investing in unique products like zebra meat and adaptogenic ramen due to market instability.
  2. Financial struggles: Unfavorable market conditions leading to stock declines for UNFI and business closures like Boisson.
  3. Credit crunch: Ampla facing an existential crisis, indicating a potentially critical point in the market.
Stock Market Nerd β€’ 707 implied HN points β€’ 03 Feb 24
  1. Apple beat revenue estimates but had mixed performance in different product segments, especially in China.
  2. Mastercard surpassed revenue estimates and saw growth in various sectors like cross-border revenue and value-add services.
  3. Match's financial results were strong, although challenges like negative payer growth from price hikes are temporary.
  4. AMD ranked well in Cloud Workload Security and continues to expand its offerings with the potential for higher revenue and margins.
  5. CrowdStrike received recognition in Forrester's Cloud Workload Security report and shows promising growth potential with increased modules for clients.
Stock Market Nerd β€’ 687 implied HN points β€’ 06 Feb 24
  1. Palantir beat revenue and profit estimates, showing strong demand and profitability growth.
  2. Balance sheet details indicate a healthy financial position with no traditional debt and significant cash reserves.
  3. The company has shown impressive growth, particularly in the U.S. commercial sector, and is poised for further success with its AI platform.
The Informationist β€’ 1356 implied HN points β€’ 09 Apr 23
  1. A recession is a period of economic decline lasting at least six months, indicated by decreasing GDP, rising unemployment, and reduced spending.
  2. The inversion of the US Treasury yield curve is a reliable leading indicator of a coming recession, happening 6 to 18 months before the actual onset.
  3. Divergence between GDP and GDI, along with falling corporate profits, can signal economic contraction, with 93% of CEOs preparing for a recession in 2023.
Snowball β€’ 1356 implied HN points β€’ 17 Mar 23
  1. The post shares 38 favorite tools for managing personal finances including budget tracking, investment research, and ETF investing.
  2. The tools cover various aspects such as budget management, investment strategies, tracking investments, and finding information on companies and markets.
  3. There are tools for managing subscriptions, finding forgotten bank accounts, simulating compound interests, assessing insider trading activities, tracking crypto portfolios, and more.
Asian Century Stocks β€’ 805 implied HN points β€’ 10 Jan 24
  1. Cocoa prices have spiked due to poor crops in West Africa, leading to challenges for chocolate producers.
  2. The tightness in the cocoa market is expected to persist, but historically, markets tend to return to balance within three years.
  3. High cocoa prices impact processors and chocolate manufacturers, who eventually pass on costs to consumers over approximately two years.
We're Gonna Get Those Bastards β€’ 11 implied HN points β€’ 22 May 25
  1. The bond market reacts strongly to government budget issues, which can lead to serious financial problems. If interest rates rise too high, it could lead to government insolvency and hyperinflation.
  2. Many people don't understand finance and ignore warnings about spending and deficits. This lack of knowledge can make it hard for them to see how these issues affect their daily lives.
  3. Understanding finance is important for protecting oneself during economic troubles. Those who do understand can take proactive steps while others may remain unaware of the risks.
Fintech Business Weekly β€’ 66 implied HN points β€’ 15 Dec 24
  1. Fraud and scams are becoming bigger issues for businesses compared to individuals. Companies need better tools to protect themselves from these threats.
  2. Many fintech companies are raising significant funding, which shows growth in the industry. Some are also getting ready for potential IPOs in the coming years.
  3. There's a legal battle between a crypto debit card company and its banking partner. It highlights the risks and challenges in the fintech sector, especially in compliance and service delivery.
Erdmann Housing Tracker β€’ 105 implied HN points β€’ 04 Dec 24
  1. The average down payment for mortgages has stayed about the same since 1996, showing that lending standards haven’t changed as much as some people think.
  2. Home values and lending practices dramatically shifted between 2007 and 2009, leading to a decline in the quality of new mortgages, which affected the overall housing market.
  3. The decline in home values wasn't just a sudden crisis but a long-term issue influenced by lending practices and market perceptions, resulting in many areas experiencing just steady downturns without previous booms.
COVID Reason β€’ 1784 implied HN points β€’ 28 Aug 23
  1. Over $10 trillion was spent on the COVID-19 pandemic, with $6 trillion from CARES Act and $4 trillion from Biden's administration.
  2. Money was stolen through fraud and embezzlement during COVID relief, with the effects leading to inflation and societal wealth disparity.
  3. The spending spree due to the pandemic led to significant financial losses, missed opportunities, and wealth redistribution, impacting many aspects of people's lives.
Malt Liquidity β€’ 17 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jan 25
  1. Markets are changing rapidly, and many people seem confused about their movements. This uncertainty can affect how prices are set.
  2. Information processing is key to trading today. Knowing how to filter through news and social media can give a trader an advantage.
  3. There is a growing concern that technology might soon outpace human intuition in trading. If everyone relies on AI, we might lose our ability to think critically about market dynamics.
Concepts of Finance 🧠 β€’ 399 implied HN points β€’ 04 Apr 24
  1. Stock buybacks happen when a company uses its extra cash to buy back its own shares. This can make the remaining shares more valuable by increasing earnings per share.
  2. Buybacks can be good for investors, as they might boost stock prices without having to pay taxes on dividends right away. However, critics say companies should focus on growth and investment instead.
  3. There are downsides to buybacks too. Sometimes, management might use them to inflate their bonuses, or they might buy back shares at the wrong time, leading to poor long-term results.
The Fintech Blueprint β€’ 707 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jan 24
  1. The battle for European wealth is heating up with Trade Republic, Europe's largest neobroker, making significant moves.
  2. The rise of neobrokers like Trade Republic and Robinhood revolutionized retail trading by offering zero-commission trading.
  3. Trade Republic leads EU neobrokers by focusing on longer-term passive investments and rapidly accumulating assets.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 57 implied HN points β€’ 27 Dec 24
  1. Current mortgage rates remain high, especially above 6%, making it hard for homeowners to sell and buy new homes. Most people with lower rates don't want to move because their payments would go up.
  2. More than half of all outstanding loans are now under 4%, showing how many people got favorable rates during the pandemic. This is a big reason why available homes for sale are currently low.
  3. Market sentiment is hesitant, with many potential buyers waiting for mortgage rates to drop into the 5% range before they consider purchasing a home.
Yet Another Value Blog β€’ 1218 implied HN points β€’ 21 Oct 23
  1. Stock market has had a rough few months with significant declines
  2. Current market climate has a lot of fear and worry, but it might be a good time to consider buying stocks
  3. The rise in interest rates has not led to a significant stock market sell-off, suggesting stocks may still be relatively attractive
Jon’s Newsletter β€’ 179 implied HN points β€’ 09 Jun 24
  1. Coffee stocks might help protect against inflation, according to investor Bob Iaccino. He believes that investing in commodities like coffee is a smart move right now.
  2. Tesla has divided opinions among investors and analysts, making it a complicated stock to assess. While some see great potential in Tesla's future, many analysts remain cautious.
  3. Nvidia's rapid rise in market value highlights the growing importance of AI technology. Analysts suggest sticking with major players like Nvidia and AMD as they are likely to keep gaining traction.
Something to Consider β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 13 Jul 24
  1. Income inequality is mainly based on differences between companies, not just between workers in the same company. Some companies pay their workers a lot more than others, and that's a big part of why inequality has grown.
  2. About 40% of this inequality comes from workers choosing to work at different firms. The other 20% is because some firms are simply more productive or profitable than others.
  3. We should focus more on how many highly skilled workers are earning a lot overall, rather than just looking at top executives. More people than ever have high incomes, showing that there's great potential for those who can add value in the economy.
Geopolitical Economy Report β€’ 1275 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 23
  1. The US banking system is facing a significant crisis due to the consequences of past actions, like the 2009 bank bailout and the quantitative easing measures that followed.
  2. Rising interest rates are causing bond prices to fall, which is putting pressure on banks as their assets decrease in value against deposit liabilities.
  3. The current banking crisis is reminiscent of past financial failures, like the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s, and is exacerbated by factors like the cryptocurrency wave and derivatives trading.
The Informationist β€’ 1257 implied HN points β€’ 26 Mar 23
  1. BTFP is a program by the Fed to provide liquidity to underfunded banks facing large customer withdrawals.
  2. Banks can borrow against securities like U.S. Treasuries with no haircut and at a low cost.
  3. BTFP offers a sweetheart deal to banks, providing liquidity without stigma of borrowing from the Discount Window.
Concoda β€’ 286 implied HN points β€’ 06 Jan 25
  1. The intraday repo market shows how cash moves between banks and institutions. It's important because it helps maintain stability in the financial system.
  2. Visual infographics can help people understand complex market flows clearly. They make the data accessible and engaging for everyone.
  3. Tracking daily repo market timings is useful for understanding financial trends. It allows investors to make informed decisions based on current market conditions.
Spilled Coffee β€’ 32 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jan 25
  1. The stock market had a positive week, with notable gains in the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow indexes. This followed a strong inflation report that boosted investor confidence.
  2. Inflation is still a concern, with recent CPI readings showing slight increases. The new presidential administration will face challenges related to managing this inflation.
  3. Hedge funds performed well in 2024, with many beating the S&P 500's strong return. Personal portfolio gains were significantly high, leading to discussions about future investment strategies.