“We Deserve a Party!”

Hi there! Many of you have asked how I got started in the markets and how I came to know so much about investing. Well, my journey began with Ms. Cassandra Cummings, founder of the Stocks and Stilettos Society (the fastest-growing online community of women investors). At a time when I was rebuilding my life after divorce and struggling with debt, I found Cassandra’s community and enrolled in her courses.

Cassandra never set out to revolutionize how women approach investing, but that’s exactly what she has done. A resident of Northern California and a devoted mom of one, Cassandra has built a movement that empowers women to step into the world of investing with knowledge and confidence.

"A lot of us have money, but we also have trust issues when it comes to handling it," Cassandra explained, during our recent conversation. "I wanted to create a space where women, especially women of colour, feel safe to learn, grow, and take control of their financial future."

Her Stocks and Stilettos Society has become a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of women. The society provides educational programs like Build a Bag, which simplifies options trading, and the Stock Success Circle, which will soon include a dividend-investing app designed to help members track and grow their passive income. "The goal is to shift women into wealth-building strategies they can sustain," she said.

For me, Cassandra’s work was life-changing. Before joining the Stocks and Stilettos Society, I had no clear roadmap to financial security. I had no idea what my 401K statements event meant. Her teachings and guidance gave me a solid introduction to stocks and investment strategies. I found my footing, built confidence in my investing skills, and am now able to pass that knowledge on to others.

Later, when Cassandra released her book, Fearless Finances: A Timeless Guide to Building Wealth, it reinforced everything I had already learnt from her courses and community. In Fearless Finances, Cassandra teaches readers how to conquer longstanding fears around money, develop a firm financial foundation for themselves and their families, invest in the stock market for wealth creation and legacy building, and prepare for a lifelong winning financial season. The book walks readers through the keys to building a success squad of trusted experts, alongside stories of women who overcame financial fears to achieve their wealth-building dreams, proving that others can do the same.

What makes Fearless Finances truly powerful is its hands-on approach. Each chapter includes real-world examples and activities that beginner investors can relate to and apply. Cassandra starts by helping readers shift their mindset around money, then covers essential financial concepts such as types of banks, savings strategies, stock brokers, investment diversification, and even real estate investing. It’s a step-by-step guide to financial empowerment, designed to help women take charge of their wealth with clarity and confidence.

As Women’s History Month highlights those who educate and inspire, Cassandra’s message is clear: "You are the best thing to ever happen to your money. No one will take care of it like you can."

For any woman wondering if it's too late to start, let Cassandra’s mission remind you that the best time to begin is always now. 

Alright, let’s dig in!

Last Week’s Market Overview (February 23 - March 1, 2025)

Markets closed out February with heightened volatility, as investors navigated a busy week of earnings and economic data. U.S. equities ended mostly lower, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declining, while the Dow eked out a slight gain thanks to month-end rebalancing. Treasury yields pulled back, reversing their recent climb, while commodities broadly declined under pressure from a strengthening dollar. Meanwhile, European markets climbed to record highs mid-week, while Asian equities sold off after renewed U.S. tariff threats spooked investors.

In a choppy session last Friday, stocks swung between gains and losses. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the Core PCE deflator, came in as expected, momentarily buoying sentiment. However, geopolitical tensions resurfaced when a White House meeting with the Ukrainian president turned contentious. Dell (DELL) took a hit after reporting disappointing earnings and weak guidance.

U.S. Markets Recap

Equities:

• The biggest event of the week was NVIDIA’s (NVDA) Q4 earnings, which met expectations but lacked the explosive growth seen in prior quarters. The report weighed on mega-cap tech stocks and raised questions about the sustainability of AI-driven gains.

• Meta (META) reportedly considering a $200 billion AI investment, while Microsoft (MSFT) scaled back data center leases.

• Strong earnings from Intuit (INTU), Workday (WDAY), and Lowe’s (LOW) helped counter some of the tech-sector weakness.

• Sentiment was rattled by policy uncertainty after President Trump announced 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% levy on Chinese imports.

• Consumer confidence suffered its steepest decline since August 2021, further fueling market concerns about economic growth.

Fixed Income:

• The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index rose as Treasury yields declined. The 2-year yield fell 16 bps, while the 10-year dropped 12 bps.

• The fall in yields stemmed from slowing growth fears, reduced Treasury issuance due to debt ceiling constraints, and strong demand for government bonds at recent auctions.

• Treasury auctions saw high participation from indirect buyers, suggesting robust foreign and institutional interest.

Commodities:

• The Bloomberg Commodities Index dropped sharply. A stronger dollar, tariff fears, and geopolitical uncertainty weighed on the sector.

• Oil prices slipped as Iraq resumed exports to Turkey and U.S.-Russia relations showed signs of thawing.

• Gold posted its worst week in three months as the dollar strengthened and economic data surprised to the upside.

Currencies:

• The U.S. dollar rebounded from 11-week lows, buoyed by trade policy risks.

• The euro and British pound weakened as the dollar strengthened.

U.S. Economic Recap (February 23 - March 1, 2025)

Inflation Slows, Consumer Spending Falls

• Core PCE inflation slowed to 2.6% in January from 2.9% in December.

• Real spending fell 0.5%, partly due to harsh winter weather.

• The savings rate climbed to 4.6%, its highest since mid-2024.

• The data suggests the Fed will remain cautious, with rate cuts likely delayed until June or July.

Consumer Confidence Declines Sharply

• February’s consumer confidence index dropped to 98.3, the lowest since June 2024.

• While consumers’ views on current conditions remain strong, expectations for the future deteriorated.

• Mortgage demand is rising despite rate concerns, suggesting potential housing market resilience.

Global Markets Recap (February 23 - March 1, 2025)

Europe:

• The STOXX 600 rose 0.6%, extending its year-to-date rally.

• Germany outperformed after election winner Friedrich Merz announced plans for quick coalition-building and economic reforms.

• Corporate earnings remained strong, offsetting inflation concerns.

Asia:

• Asian stocks closed lower after President Trump’s tariff threats reignited trade war fears.

• Hong Kong and mainland China pulled back, despite a mid-week rally in tech shares.

• The People’s Bank of China kept rates steady and continued liquidity tightening.

• Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also ended in the red as tech stocks faced selling pressure.

Crypto Recap (February 23 - March 1, 2025)

Bitcoin’s Sharp Decline

• Bitcoin fell below $80,000 for the first time since November, closing out February down 17.39%, its worst monthly performance since June 2022.

• The average purchase price for Bitcoin investors in 2025 sits at $97,880, meaning many are currently underwater. If that’s you, no need to panic (not investment advice).

Bank of America Eyes Stablecoin Launch

• Bank of America is considering launching a dollar-pegged stablecoin, pending regulatory clarity.

• The move aligns with shifting regulatory attitudes toward crypto and major banks’ increasing involvement in digital assets.

State-Level Bitcoin Reserve Bills Falter

• Three bills proposing state-run Bitcoin reserves failed in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

• Opposition cited concerns over speculation and taxpayer risk, despite growing pro-crypto sentiment in the Trump administration.

SEC Softens Stance on Crypto Lawsuits

• The SEC dropped its lawsuit against Coinbase and closed investigations into Robinhood, Uniswap, OpenSea, and Consensys.

• Commissioner Hester Peirce framed the move as fostering innovation, but critics warn of reduced regulatory oversight.

Here are other key highlights from last week:

• Avalanche Visa Card went live aiming to further the mass adoption of crypto.

• Crypto wallet Phantom acquired token data platform SimpleHash.

• Aston Villa launched First NFTs on Chiliz Chain to celebrate 150th Anniversary.

• Polygon could lose over $300M in TVL as Aave votes to halt lending on PoS chain.

Markets remain on edge this week!

Key U.S. Economic Releases & Results:

• ISM Manufacturing PMI (Mon.): Lower than expected (50.3 vs. 50.6 forecast).

• Upcoming: ADP Nonfarm Payrolls (Wed.), ISM Services PMI (Wed.), Fed Beige Book (Wed.), Jobless Claims (Thurs.), Nonfarm Payrolls (Fri.), Unemployment Rate (Fri.), Average Hourly Earnings (Fri.).

Fed speakers this week:

• Musalem (Mon.): Warned of weaker-than-expected economic data, reiterating the need for a patient approach to rate cuts.

• Williams (Tues.): Acknowledged tariff uncertainty but stated monetary policy is currently balanced.

• Upcoming: Waller (Thurs.), Bostic (Thurs.), Bowman (Fri.), Williams (Fri.), Kugler (Fri.), Fed Chair Powell (Fri.).

Trade & Policy Developments

• President Trump reaffirmed tariff plans. Here is the latest and how U.S. trade partners have responded.

  

  Source: Yahoo!finance

• President Trump is set to address Congress on Tuesday night (March 4, 2025).

• White House to host first ever Crypto Summit on Friday March 7, 2025.

Earnings: 

Key Earnings Releases to watch this week are outlined in red in the chart below. Investors will use Target (TGT) and Costco (COST) results to further gauge consumer spending.

Global Economic Events This Week:

Trading Tip:

“Do not ignore a Double Bottom and Triple Bottom Signal on a monthly chart, after a minimum gap of 6 months. This is advance indication for midterm investment!”

Week 2/23/25 - 3/01/25 Recap

Special Tools and Strategies - Metals Mine

Last week (Issue #121), I shared details about the Energy EXCH platform for those trading and investing in energy markets such as oil, natural gas, and energy-related stocks. This week, I am shifting gears, a tad bit.

If you trade or invest in precious and industrial metals, you may want to add Metals Mine to your toolbox. This platform is entirely focused on curating metals-market information for traders and investors.

Key Features of Metals Mine

1. Metals Forums

The Metals Forums provide a space where traders and investors from around the world come together to share ideas, debate market movements, and swap stories about gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper markets.

2. Metals News

The Metals News section delivers fast, breaking news that helps traders and investors understand the daily, hourly, and even minute-by-minute drivers affecting price action.

3. Metals Calendar

The Metals Calendar is a robust feature that provides high, medium, and low impact economic and global events that affects the metals markets. Each calendar event includes historical, forecasted, and actual reported data, graphs, and detailed information that informs traders and investors how the results impact precious metals.

4. Metals Market

The Metals Market section provides real-time spot prices that are more reflective of market conditions than any single-source feed. It also includes synthetic instruments that enable unique trading opportunities, such as:

• Crossing two metals (e.g., Gold/Silver ratios).

• Crossing metals with global currencies (e.g., Gold/EUR), offering diversified trading strategies for those looking beyond USD-based metals pricing.

  

  Source: Metals Mine Website

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.