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Hi there! As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, I would like to highlight Ms. Robyn Mancell, another woman who has significantly impacted my life. I first met Robyn in 2017 when I joined Girls Gone Forex, an online trading academy where she served as my mindset coach. Since then, she has been a friend, business partner, and mentor. Robyn excels at encouraging others to think bigger, recognize possibilities, and take decisive action.
Twenty-five years ago, Robyn made a bold decision to depart from corporate America. This choice was prompted by her divorce and the subsequent need to manage her responsibilities as a mother of three. The changes in her job schedule made it impossible for her to pick up her children on time. “At that point, I had to look at a number of things,” she recalled. “I wasn’t going to have help anymore, and I needed to be able to take care of my boys. I had to come up with another plan.” That plan led her into insurance sales, where she eventually became a top salesperson in her office. But something was missing. “They trained us to sell, but they didn’t really teach us the basis of what we were doing. We were just following the system,” she said. “I wanted more than just a script. I wanted to understand the why.”
In her quest for deeper understanding, she remembered seeing several Facebook posts, mostly from men, talking about trading and forex. One post recommended a book that would change everything: The Complete Turtle Trader. The book detailed how a group of hand-picked individuals were trained in a systematic approach to trading and became wildly successful. “They chose mostly men,” Robyn said. “I remember thinking, what if we flipped that? What if we built something just for women?”
This idea led to the creation of Girls Gone Forex, where she, alongside her co-founder Linda Faye, trained thousands of women worldwide to trade in the trillion-dollar Forex market. Robyn focused on traders’ psychology, while Linda focused on the charts and trading strategies. “I didn’t trade at the time. I had no idea how I was going to make this happen,” she admitted. “But I knew it needed to exist. So I figured it out.” The program was centered around mindset. Something Robyn knew was the key to long-term success. “Mindset is everything. It’s how you process information, how you regulate emotions. If your mind isn’t right, you could be the smartest trader in the world, and you’ll still lose.”
For Robyn, success is heavily influenced by mindset. “How you think shapes how you act,” she advised, emphasizing that a solid mindset is more than positive thinking; it is about emotional regulation and discipline. She now shares this wisdom with aspiring entrepreneurs and investors, encouraging them to trust their intuition, continue learning, and never be afraid to pivot.
In 2022, she pivoted yet again, becoming the CEO of Green Energy Solutions Holdings, a sustainable energy company rooted in her commitment to environmental advocacy. With a background in environmental studies, Robyn understood the significance of sustainable practices for future generations, including her granddaughters. “I went back to school for environmental studies in 2011, but at the time, no one was really talking about it,” she explained. “I even shot a pilot for a TV show about sustainable living, but the industry wasn’t ready. Now, people are waking up.”
Robyn’s story shows that reinvention is powerful. “Take the leap,” she urged. “Have faith in yourself, block out the naysayers, and go after what you want. If it calls to you, it’s meant for you.” To the women feeling stuck, her advice is clear: explore, trust yourself, and move. “I’ve never done anything just for the money,” she said. “I follow what speaks to my soul. The money follows.”
Alright, let’s dig in!
Last Week’s Market Overview (March 2 - March 8, 2025)
Markets kicked off March on shaky ground, as tariff uncertainty and AI sector concerns dominated investor sentiment. U.S. equities ended the week lower, with the S&P 500 posting its worst weekly performance since September. European markets closed mixed, buoyed by increased defense and infrastructure spending, while Asian markets logged their best week since last September. U.S. Treasuries declined alongside European bonds, which faced one of their worst routs in decades. Meanwhile, commodities rebounded after last week’s losses.
Stock market volatility remained high, with sharp swings driven by the shifting trade policies of President Trump. The week closed on a slightly positive note after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reassured investors about the economic outlook. However, the broader market weakness was evident, particularly in technology stocks. Costco (COST) also declined after reporting mixed earnings, raising concerns about how tariffs and inflation may impact consumer spending.
U.S. Markets Recap
Equities:
Major indices suffered steep losses, with the S&P 500 closing 3% lower and the Nasdaq facing the most selling pressure due to weakness in technology stocks. The Dow fared slightly better but still ended lower.
Tariff-driven uncertainty weighed heavily on market sentiment. President Trump doubled the most recent round of levies on Chinese goods to 20%, prompting retaliatory tariffs from China, Canada, and Mexico. Beijing responded with a 15% tariff on key U.S. agricultural products and added several U.S. companies to its export control list.
AI stocks faced renewed scrutiny after Marvell Technology (MRVL) provided a weak outlook, which contrasted with the debut of Alibaba’s (BABA) new AI model, said to rival DeepSeek’s performance with less data.
Some relief came mid-week when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested potential tariff relief for Canada and Mexico. However, despite a one-month delay on USMCA-eligible goods, the market continued to struggle.
Fixed Income:
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index declined as Treasury yields moved higher. The 10-year yield rose by 11 basis points (0.11%), reflecting market concerns about economic growth rather than inflation expectations.
Markets have fully priced in three Federal Reserve rate cuts this year as economic worries continue to mount.
Commodities:
The Bloomberg Commodities Index rebounded after last week’s losses.
Crude oil prices declined as tariff concerns dampened the energy demand outlook and OPEC+ announced the resumption of previously halted crude production in April.
Gold prices surged on haven demand, while silver and copper also posted strong gains.
Currencies:
The U.S. dollar slid to four-month lows as economic and trade concerns pressured the currency.
The euro surged on expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will pause rate cuts, while the Japanese yen strengthened amid rising wage demands, increasing the odds of rate hikes from the Bank of Japan (BOJ).
U.S. Economic Recap (March 2 - March 8, 2025)
Jobs Report: Growth Continues, But Weakness Emerges
U.S. businesses added 151,000 jobs in February, with average hourly earnings increasing 4% year-over-year, outpacing inflation.
The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1%, remaining in a narrow range since mid-2024.
The percentage of workers with multiple jobs reached its highest level since the Great Financial Crisis.
Government layoffs tied to the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were reflected in the report, though state and local hiring offset some losses.
Layoffs surged in February, with 172,017 job cuts recorded—a 245% increase from January.
Services Sector Remains Strong, But Inflation Concerns Grow
The services sector grew in February, though input prices rose, signaling potential inflationary pressures.
Sixteen of 18 service industries reported higher prices paid, a concern for the Federal Reserve.
Policymakers remain focused on avoiding stagflation, as economic uncertainty continues to mount.
Global Markets Recap (March 2 - March 8, 2025)
Europe:
European markets closed mixed, with defense stocks rising after pledges for increased military spending.
European bond markets saw one of their worst sell-offs in decades due to mounting borrowing needs amid increased military spending and tariff concerns.
German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz announced plans to amend the constitution to remove defense spending caps, which boosted German equities but contributed to a historic bond market sell-off.
The ECB delivered its sixth rate cut of the easing cycle but hinted at a possible pause next month.
Asia:
Asian stocks had their best week since September, driven by AI enthusiasm and positive economic sentiment in China.
Alibaba’s new AI model spurred optimism, while the Chinese government maintained a 5% GDP growth target and announced its largest fiscal deficit in over 30 years.
India closed higher, while Taiwan and South Korea ended lower. Australia extended losses, closing near six-month lows.
Crypto Recap (March 2 - March 8, 2025)
Congress Forms Crypto Caucus
A bipartisan Congressional Crypto Caucus was launched to unify pro-crypto lawmakers in legislative efforts.
This comes after President Trump announced plans to establish a “crypto strategic reserve” for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and XRP.
Trump Signs Executive Order for Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
The U.S. government will maintain a strategic reserve of Bitcoin using assets seized in criminal and civil proceedings.
The government holds 198,109 BTC (worth approximately $17 billion) and has pledged not to sell any of it.
A U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile will also be created for other cryptocurrencies obtained through forfeiture proceedings.
Uniswap Expands Fiat On-Ramp Services
Uniswap partnered with Robinhood, MoonPay, and Transak to allow users in 180+ countries to convert crypto to fiat seamlessly.
The move follows the SEC’s decision to drop its investigation into Uniswap, marking a significant regulatory shift in the U.S.
Last Week’s Top Crypto Gainer: Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Here are other key highlights from last week:
Is AMD the best growth stock under $100 to buy now?
Metamask integrates crypto tax calculator to offer built-in tax management tool.
Coinbase, NEAR, others form alliance to develop Open AI services.
Parallel headed to mobile as Ethereum card game crowns $100K champion.
Another crazy week in the markets!
Key U.S. Economic Releases & Results:
JOLTS Job Openings (Tues.): 7.74M (slightly above expectations of 7.6M).
CPI Inflation (Wed.): Inflation cooled, with CPI rising 0.2% MoM vs. 0.3% expected.
Headline CPI: 2.8% YoY (down from 3.0% in January).
Core CPI: 3.1% YoY (down from 3.3% in January).
Upcoming U.S. Economic Events:
PPI Inflation (Thurs.), Jobless Claims (Thurs.), Consumer Sentiment (Fri.).
No Fed speakers this week!
The Fed has entered its pre-FOMC meeting blackout period ahead of the March 18-19 policy decision.
Powell remained cautious, awaiting more clarity on the economic impact of tariffs before considering rate cuts.
Earnings:
Key Earnings Releases to watch this week are outlined in red in the chart below.
Global Economic Events This Week:
Trading Tip:
“Tuesday after St. Patrick’s Day is expected to be bullish!”
Week 3/02/25 - 3/08/25 Recap
Special Tools and Strategies - Crypto Craft
Over the past two weeks, I’ve discussed essential trading platforms tailored for specific market sectors. In Issue #121, I introduced Energy EXCH, a platform designed for traders and investors in the energy markets, including oil, natural gas, and energy-related stocks. Issue #122 focused on Metals Mine, a specialized resource for tracking and analyzing the metals market.
This week I am going to shift to cryptocurrency market with Crypto Craft.
Crypto Craft, one of my favourites, is a platform for traders and investors in cryptocurrency markets. The platform:
Covers 184 mineable cryptocurrencies, offering prices aggregated from major exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, Gemini, KuCoin, and Kraken.
Features a global crypto community where traders exchange ideas and strategies.
Provides up-to-the-minute market-moving news for deep insight into daily trends.
Offers an economic calendar specifically tailored to crypto markets.
Delivers real-time price aggregation, ensuring traders see prices that reflect the broader market rather than a single exchange.
The five main features of Crypto Craft are:
1. Coins: Market Sentiment at a Glance
Displays top 12 mineable cryptocurrencies ranked by market cap.
Helps traders track market sentiment, volume changes, and price trends.
2. Forums: Engage with a Global Trading Community
Structured crypto forums for idea-sharing and professional discussions.
Topics range from market trends to technical and fundamental analysis.
Engaged community of experienced traders.
3. News: Real-Time Updates That Matter
Fast, breaking news covering all aspects of the crypto industry.
Categories:
Fundamental Analysis: Market drivers and regulations.
Technical Analysis: Price action, indicators, and forecasts.
Entertainment News: Lighter, trending financial news.
Crypto Industry News: Business, regulatory, and tech updates.
Educational News: Tutorials and historical lessons.
4. Calendar: Keep Up With Market-Moving Events
The Crypto Craft Calendar is a great tool for traders who want to anticipate market reactions to key events.
Monitor upcoming events like inflation reports, regulatory updates, and Federal Reserve meetings that might impact Bitcoin and altcoins.
Use impact ratings to determine which events are most likely to cause volatility.
Plan trades around key economic releases to maximize opportunities.
5. Markets: Real-Time Price Aggregation & Trading Sessions
Crypto Craft’s Markets feature provides traders with real-time price feeds aggregated from multiple exchanges, ensuring fair and accurate pricing.
Live price charts with multi-timeframe analysis.
Technical indicators to help traders identify trends and key levels.
Session tracking for major financial centers (Sydney, Tokyo, London, New York), showing when crypto trading activity is at its peak.
Monitor trading session overlaps to identify periods of high liquidity and volatility.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is strictly educational. The information this report provides does not constitute investment, financial, trading, or any other advice. You should not treat any of the report’s content as such. Please be careful and do your research.