ON MIKE’S MIND
We have all heard the “truth” that war is good business.
And yes, there are certain companies and industries that profit madly when the guns start blasting.
But peace is far better business, and, more importantly, a better way to live.
As I watched the Pope’s funeral in Rome, seeing Trump sitting with Zelensky, seeing the world come together for a brief moment in a moment of solemnity for the passing of a man who, on the whole, as been a voice of peace, tolerance and love, it gave me hope.
Not confidence that we will be experiencing more peace in the world - but some hope.
Good things happen when men and women sit down together to work things out, face-to-face.
In a world that is increasingly digital, where words fly fast and bullets fly faster - lately in Africa, the Middle East and now currently on the India-Pakistan border genuine human contact becomes an ever more crucial tool, or asset.
As Warren Buffet himself said, "You can learn a lot about a person by looking them in the eye. Face-to-face communication builds trust that you simply can’t achieve through emails or phone calls."
Obama echoes Buffet from the halls of political power - "It's harder to hate up close. You sit down across from someone and suddenly they're not some caricature, they're just a person like you, open to conversation, open to compromise."
I have found that there is no substitute for hopping on a plane and meeting a business colleague - or potential investor or investee - in person.
Yes, data is the new oil, but our fundamental humanity remains the welcome elixir that allows the gears of business, politics and life to move forward.
May it serve peace and prosperity this year and in the years to come.
To Our Co/Success,
Mike
THE MARKETS
The market has had a strong recovery this week as the fog of uncertainty begins to clear
S&P 500: +6.04%, DJI: +4.00%, NASDAQ Composite: +8.31%
Trump backs down from his pressure campaign on the Fed and Powell
The 10-2 spread narrowed this week, the 2-year fell 4 basis points to 3.76, while the 10-year fell 7 basis points to 4.26
The VIX has nearly returned to normalcy, ending the week at 24.84
A massive retail rally was driven by enthusiasm and FOMO, leading some analysts to believe a correction or breakout will be coming soon
BTC: +11.23%, ETH: +12.51%, XRP: +5.28%
WISE WORDS
“A lot of opportunities in life tend to last a short while, due to some temporary inefficiency... For each of us, really good investment opportunities aren't going to come along too often and won't last too long, so you've got to be ready to act and have a prepared mind.”
-Charlie Munger
In Case You Missed It…
This week, we published a report on Microcaps ahead of the Planet MicroCap Showcase. The event concluded earlier this week, and we believe it was a major success. Be sure to check out our article and check out Planet MicroCap’s YouTube to see all of the stock pitches, keynotes, and panels, and all of the webcasts are available here!
Reflections on the Week…
Even the boldest leaders sometimes have to fold a hand to stay in the game. Recent pivots by Musk and Trump, who certainly aren’t afraid to put their money where their mouth is, show the kind of discipline it takes to preserve credibility, protect future moves, and keep enough chips on the table for when it really matters.
After months of high-profile political adventures, it became clear that Musk’s extracurriculars damaged Tesla’s core business and image. Following a historic drop in sales and a 71% plunge in quarterly profits, Musk announced he would scale back his outside engagements, including his federal DOGE initiative, and spend nearly all his time where it matters most: Tesla’s operations and product roadmap.
In the world of innovative tech brands, a firebrand leader at the top isn’t just a luxury; it’s often essential to keeping the edge sharp. Musk’s boldness has been a critical asset in pushing Tesla to the forefront of electric vehicles and energy innovation. But even great players have to pick their spots. Musk played his hand with DOGE and broader political ventures, but now, to retain Tesla’s momentum, and his chip stack, he needs to go all-in where it counts most.
Investors, who had grown increasingly nervous about Tesla’s shifting image, breathed a sigh of relief. Although some analysts still predict permanent demand damage of up to 10%, Musk’s rapid course correction has already yielded early rewards: Tesla shares have rallied nearly 14% over the past week alone, showing that markets still reward players who know when to refocus and bet smart.
Meanwhile, President Trump played his own high-stakes hand. After unveiling sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" a few weeks ago, the administration quickly paused with a 90-day freeze on new levies. Whether Trump recognized he had drawn a dead hand, as other nations began ramping up their reciprocal tariffs, or was bluffing all along as part of a broader negotiation strategy remains unclear—but either way, the result was a strategic fold to avoid triggering a much bigger economic loss.
Trump began his pressure campaign by turning up the heat on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, pushing aggressively for lower interest rates to reignite economic momentum ahead of crucial negotiations and elections. It was one of Trump’s last cards to play in reshaping the economic landscape, but it carried heavy risk: undermining central bank independence, one of the few anchors of stability investors count on in uncertain markets.
Perhaps Trump was looking back at the historic Black Monday crash. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan didn’t cling to a rigid playbook; he pivoted quickly, injecting liquidity and restoring market confidence. Greenspan’s adjustment wasn’t a bluff but a critical move to prevent deeper economic damage. Taking a page from that history, Trump ultimately backed off his public threats against Powell, giving markets a sigh of relief once again.
Winning isn't about stubbornly sticking to every bet—it’s about knowing when to step back, reassess the odds, and pivot smartly. Musk and Trump’s reversals show that flexibility isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s what keeps you in the game. In fast-changing markets, clinging to a bad hand can wipe you out, while folding early gives you the chips—and the credibility—you need to go all in when the time is right.
As the old saying goes, "When the facts change, I change my mind." Musk and Trump just reminded us why it pays to play smart.
The Savvy Investor…
UBS on Bear Markets
A Welcome Back to Chili’s
A Saudi Prince’s Return to Markets Begins with xAI
Harvard planning to sell $1 billion in PE Investments
Nintendo’s Switch 2 is Selling Like Hot Cakes
Publisher’s Note: The Future of the Co/Investor Club
Just a quick note today…
Behind the scenes, Mike and I and the Co/Investor team have been fielding investment opportunities as well as exploring new avenues to bring you, our membership, other advantages in the financial world.
It is not only Mike’s deep experience in various markets that drives this Club, it is also our large network of top, trustable, proven leaders across asset classes that we believe will make these new initiatives ever more valuable to all of us.
I myself have just last night returned from Austin where skyscrapers are shooting up faster that wildgrass. The cranes are working hard. The energy of downtown is palpable and you’d never know there was economic turbulence out there in the big bad world.
Just like it’s always happy hour somewhere, the bulls are stampeding somewhere.
Our job - as The Co/Investor Club community is to find them - and to make them available to you.
Early and consistently.
Have a great week,
Adam
Publisher
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