It’s been a while since my last blog update.
Today, I want to talk about investments — specifically, how the markets have performed following the 2024 U.S. presidential election and my outlook for the future.
1. Trump’s Victory: Market Confidence and Optimism
The 2024 U.S. presidential election ended with a decisive victory for Donald Trump.
In the aftermath, both the stock market and Bitcoin experienced significant growth, driven by:
• Renewed Confidence: Investors were reassured by a familiar face in leadership.
• Policy Expectations: Trump’s promises of tax cuts, deregulation, and infrastructure spending boosted market optimism.
• Pro-Growth Stance: Continued focus on supporting businesses and economic expansion.
These factors combined to create a favorable environment for investments, and the results have been evident across key indices and asset classes.
2. My Portfolio Performance
As I’ve shared before, my portfolio is primarily composed of:
• $IBIT (BlackRock Bitcoin ETF)
• $NVDA (NVIDIA)
• $QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF)
• $VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF)
Each of these assets has performed well this year:
• $NVDA: Powered by the ongoing AI boom, NVIDIA continues to dominate.
• $IBIT: Benefited from Bitcoin’s price surge and increased ETF adoption.
• $QQQ and $VTI: Broad market gains have provided consistent growth.
It’s been a rewarding year, and the diversification of these assets has provided stability despite occasional market turbulence.
3. Yen Depreciation: A Positive for Japanese Investors
Japan’s monetary policies have also played a significant role this year:
• No Interest Rate Hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ)
• Slower-than-expected Rate Cuts by the Federal Reserve (FED)
As a result, the yen has weakened against the U.S. dollar, amplifying returns on U.S. investments for yen-based investors like myself.
In particular, my S&P 500 mutual funds purchased in Japanese yen have seen notable gains due to this currency trend.
4. Reflection on 2024 and Expectations for 2025
2024 Performance Recap
This year has been generally stable for markets, thanks to:
• Political stability following Trump’s victory
• Continued strength in AI-related stocks
• Favorable currency exchange rates for Japanese investors
These factors have collectively supported portfolio growth.
Key Focus Areas for 2025
Looking ahead, I’ll be keeping an eye on:
1. U.S. Economic Policies:
• Implementation of promised tax cuts and infrastructure spending.
2. Federal Reserve Interest Rate Trends:
• Pace and scale of rate cuts.
3. Japan’s Monetary Policy:
• Potential for the BOJ to eventually raise rates.
The Federal Reserve’s actions, in particular, will have significant ripple effects across global markets.
5. Investment: Always Your Own Decision
As always, I want to emphasize that investment decisions are personal and should be made carefully.
The market can be unpredictable, and external factors can cause rapid shifts.
“Don’t follow the crowd. Make your own informed decisions.”
This philosophy will guide me in 2025 as I continue to grow my portfolio.
Summary
• Trump’s Victory: Markets responded positively with stable growth.
• My Portfolio: $IBIT, $NVDA, $QQQ, and $VTI delivered strong results.
• Yen Depreciation: Benefited investments in S&P 500 mutual funds.
• 2025 Focus Areas: U.S. economic policies, interest rate trends, and Japan’s monetary stance.
I’ll continue to monitor the markets closely and share my insights here.
Here’s to another successful year of investing in 2025! 🚀
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