So, I started looking for something… sturdier. Something that wasn’t reliant on the whims of Mark Zuckerberg’s latest obsession. That’s when I landed on NextEra Energy (NEE 0.32%). It’s not exactly glamorous, I admit. It’s not like buying shares in a company that designs self-folding laundry. But NextEra generates power. Real, tangible power. From things like natural gas, nuclear, solar, and wind. It’s… reassuringly basic. Like a good, solid pair of sensible shoes.
In the land of the rising sun, where cherry blossoms bloom amidst the chaos of capitalism, Nomura-Japan’s largest wealth manager-is taking a step back from the wild world of cryptocurrencies. After watching its European arm take a nosedive in the third quarter of 2025, the firm, which manages a staggering ¥153 trillion in client assets, seems to have realized that sometimes it’s best not to ride the rollercoaster with your eyes closed.
One feels, naturally, a certain degree of interest in the details, to ascertain whether this upward trajectory is likely to continue. Let’s have a closer look, shall we?
The plan, as it stands, involves scaling back production of the Model S and X – the posh ones, if you will – and repurposing a factory to churn out humanoid robots. A million a year, they say. A million! That’s a lot of robots. It reminds me of a story about a chap who decided to collect bottle caps. Started reasonably enough, but within a year his house was entirely filled. One hopes Tesla has a slightly more robust storage solution. The third generation Optimus is due this quarter, apparently designed for actual mass production. One assumes they’ve ironed out the kinks – the last thing you want is a million robots with a penchant for spontaneous combustion.
Amazon. The big one. Lagged a bit, they say. Twelve months in the shadows. But shadows don’t last forever. Earnings are a slow burn, but they’re burning. Efficiency’s the name of the game, and they’re playing it. I’d wager a good nickel they’ll be showing a brighter face when the next quarterly report drops.
They call it the January Barometer. A fancy name for a simple idea: how the month goes, so goes the year. Some folks chase these things like they’re looking for a lost paycheck. I don’t put much stock in luck, but I do pay attention to patterns. Especially when those patterns might fatten a portfolio.
Look, I’m not saying AI isn’t the future. I’m saying if you want to actually make money from it, forget the software for a minute. The real opportunity? It’s always been in the pick-and-shovel game. The stuff that actually makes the magic happen. Which brings us to two companies I’ve been eyeing: Micron Technology and Broadcom. Don’t expect fireworks, but a quiet, steady burn is sometimes the best kind.
One shouldn’t chase miracles, of course. Just… reasonably solid ground. A few names suggest themselves, not as beacons of triumph, but as… manageable disappointments.
Grandview Research whispers of a 5.1% annual growth in the pet care market until 2030. A respectable figure, certainly. But to pin one’s hopes solely on this burgeoning industry… it feels akin to betting on a particularly fluffy poodle in a greyhound race. Chewy, for all its admirable dedication to squeaky toys and organic catnip, is a specialist. Walmart, on the other hand, is… everything. And in this age of rampant consumerism, ‘everything’ possesses a certain terrifying appeal.
This dramatic exodus unfolded as Aave, with the precision of a Swiss clock, liquidated over $140 million in collateral across its sprawling networks. Such actions speak volumes of the growing trepidation among even the most fortified of market titans, who now navigate these waters with caution lest they be swallowed by the whims of volatility.