The Deep Woods: Sleep Is a Virtue

You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive our free e-letter The Deep Woods, or you purchased a product or service from its publisher, Eagle Financial Publications. [The Deep Woods] [Successful Investing]( [I]([ntelligence Report]( [Bullseye Stock Trader]( [About Jim]( In This Issue: • Sleep Is a Virtue • ETF Talk: Bitcoin Is IBIT of a Trend • A First Look at the Election and Markets • Something for Nothing Sleep Is a Virtue by Jim Woods Editor, [Successful Investing](, [Intelligence Report]( & [Bullseye Stock Trader]( 03/13/2024 Sponsored Content [Elon Musk's NEW A.I. Project "Will Be Bigger Than Tesla"]( One of Silicon Valley's legendary investors traveled all the way to Elon Musk's Tesla Gigafactory to discover his next huge AI project. Something he's calling Elon's "A.I. 2.0."  And Elon's very own words...  "[A.I. 2.0] will be even bigger than Tesla." If you position yourself correct now, before Elon makes the official public announcement... You could set yourself up to achieve generational wealth. [Click here now to get all of the informationÂ]( Sleep Is a Virtue Let’s face it, I don’t have very much in common with President Biden. He’s a career politician, a Democrat and someone who holds many political and philosophic ideas that I stridently disagree with. He’s also a man who has many, shall we say, “backward” ideas on how to live. Perhaps the best example of these ideas was illustrated way back in 2008, in an article I wrote about my five-hour plane ride with then-Senator Biden, “[We All Scream for Ice Cream: A Joe Biden Tale](.” If you haven’t yet read this article, let me give you the Cliff Notes version: He ate his meal in reverse order. This behavior revealed what I concluded to be a type of reverse-thinking pathology of the sort that leads to bizarre and backward ideas, the latest of which being the proposals found in so-called “[Bidenomics](.” This is the economic playbook that consists of bigger and bigger government subsidies and spending, and more rules and regulations as a panacea for growing the economy from “the middle out and the bottom up -- not the top down.” Now, as a free-market advocate and a radical for laissez-faire capitalism, you likely know what I think about these ideas. So, the president and I certainly don’t share this key philosophic view. However, I do share one important thing with Joe Biden that I want to tell everyone about, right now, as it just might save your life (and I mean that with no sense of hyperbole). Last summer, the White House confirmed that President Biden had recently begun using a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea. The admission came largely in response to the visible indentations caused by the CPAP straps that were seen on both sides of the president’s face after he began using the device. Now, if you don’t know, a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is a device that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while you sleep. It is the primary treatment option for sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts, forcing a person to essentially wake up constantly during the night, therefore depriving him/her of entering the various necessary sleep stages. It’s also a condition that an estimated 30 million people in the United States have, a number that I suspect is way too low. I say that, because last year, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, a condition I suspect I had been suffering from for many years without even being aware of it. And here, you see, is something I have in common with Joe Biden -- we both have sleep apnea, and we both use a CPAP to help us deal with this subversive health condition. Your editor wearing his “nasal pillow” CPAP machine. Like the president, I experienced some facial indentations when I first began using my full-face CPAP. However, when I switched to what is called a “nasal pillow” device, the facial indentations disappeared. Now, the reason I am writing about this medical condition I share with President Biden is because sleep apnea is a very serious problem that, left untreated, can result in a host of serious health complications. For example, [multiple studies]( have shown an association between sleep apnea and problems such as type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart attacks and even a shortened lifespan. I don’t know about you, but I love my life, and I want it to continue for many years to come. I also want that life to be as free of disease as possible, and as healthy as possible. And considering that more and more research has revealed that quality sleep is a critical component of optimal health, a kind of [health superpower]( if you will, it only makes sense to get the best quality sleep you can. Finally, I want you to seriously consider this vital health issue, because you may suffer from sleep apnea and not even realize it. If you, or most likely your partner, notice that you snore heavily, or if you feel sluggish in the morning, have unexplained fatigue and mood swings or if you have dry mouth and/or headaches when you awaken, you may have sleep apnea. To begin the process of treating this condition, I recommend seeing your doctor and having them refer you to a sleep specialist for an overnight sleep study. This is when you go to a sleep facility, where they place sensors on your head and body that monitor your sleep and calculate your “apnea events” during the night. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), sleep apnea and the number of apnea events are categorized into mild (five-15 events/hour), moderate (15-30 events/hour), and severe (>30 events/hour). When I did my sleep study, I was off the charts at 66 events per hour. That means more than once per minute I was waking up and gasping for breath! Thankfully, this situation is now under control. In fact, my CPAP monitor actually tells me how many apnea events I experience per hour. Last night, it was 0.0 events. So, from 66 events to zero -- that is what you call deep sleep progress. So, if you have any suspicion at all that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, I strongly urge you to find out if you share what the president and I share -- a condition you should by no means feel embarrassed by, one that can be treated by medical technology and one that can help you live a healthier life. Ok, now call your doctor. [China’s Global Conspiracy to Destroy the American Dollar]( China is nearing the end of its 40-year plan to dominate the world’s economy. Only one obstacle remains: The U.S. dollar. But not for long... because China has enlisted many co-conspirators to sink the dollar: Russia, India, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and even Canada. And – no surprise – the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants to jump in to help China win. This means China now has the power to crush the dollar almost overnight... and bankrupt America. But there’s still time to protect the money and retirement of investors. [Click here now to find out how... before it’s too late.]( ETF Talk: Bitcoin Is IBIT of a Trend If there’s one commodity that’s on every investor’s mind as of late, it has to be Bitcoin. Bitcoin has been making huge waves in both the market and the news, with the latest headline reporting it [hit a record high of $72,000 on Monday](. With high inflation a continuing threat in 2024, hedge investments such as Bitcoin have been experiencing a rebound, with some experts speculating that [its value could reach up to $100,000 during the next year](. Adding to the excitement is the recent introduction of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including one that recently amassed [over 200,000 BTC in assets]( -- the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Opened in January of this year by BlackRock, Inc., this fledgling ETF has already carved out a comfortable spot for itself in the market. IBIT is a passively managed fund that seeks to track the spot price of Bitcoin, with the intention of providing investors with easy access to the cryptocurrency, without the hassle of having to acquire, hold and trade it directly. IBIT is backed by Bitcoin held in what is known as “cold storage.” Cold storage is a safeguarding method that generates and stores private keys corresponding to the trust’s Bitcoins offline, making them more resistant to hacking. The trust’s holdings are valued daily based on the CF Benchmarks Index, which tracks the once-a-day benchmark rate of Bitcoin’s price in U.S. dollars. The index aggregates the trade flow of several Bitcoin platforms during its observation window with a focus on transactions the index provider finds relevant. Currently, the fund has an expense ratio of 0.12%, and $13.58 billion in assets under management. Plus, 100% of the fund’s holdings are in Bitcoin, making the trust’s sole investment focus on the cryptocurrency. This is excellent for investors looking for an easy way to invest in Bitcoin. Courtesy of [www.stockcharts.com]( As of March 11, the trust is up an astounding 51.45% in the past month. Since the ETF launched recently, IBIT does not yet have a three-month or a year-to-date performance listed. While Bitcoin is currently all the rage, it might not be the right investment choice for your portfolio. Before jumping into any investment, trend or not, you should always consider your investment goals and do your due diligence before adding any stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF) to your portfolio. As always, I am happy to answer any of your questions about ETFs, so do not hesitate to [email me](mailto:askjim@successfuletfinvesting.com). You may see your question answered in a future ETF Talk. [Learn to Trade Like Interest Rates Don't Matter]( As February overflows with interest rate headlines, here’s a fresh perspective for you: Learn to trade like interest rates don’t matter. Whether you're a stock trader, options trader, swing trader, or day trader, this A.I. “Brain” is predicting market movements days in advance. [Don’t Miss This FREE Live Class to Learn How >]( In case you missed it… A First Look at the Election and Markets The morning after “Super Tuesday” in the presidential primaries usually means the stage is set for the upcoming battle between Democratic and Republican candidates for the job of “leader of the free world.” And while there wasn’t much drama this year regarding who would be the two candidates fighting it out from here on, last night’s dominance by former President Trump and current President Biden certainly cemented the fall contest. So, and I say this with reluctance, as my palate for politics over the past eight years has grown increasingly bitter and caustically unpalatable, it is now time to look at presidential politics and what it might mean for the markets going forward. In a recent edition of my daily market briefing, the [Eagle Eye Opener]( (which if you don’t subscribe, what are you waiting for?), we took a look at what sectors would likely benefit if Donald Trump wins a second term in office. Luckily, we have a blueprint for the types of policies that would be implemented in a second Trump term because we had the first term, and we should expect (broadly) more of the same. Importantly, the S&P 500 posted a 37% total return during the first three years of Trump’s presidency, so the first three years were indeed favorable for investors. So, what sectors are likely to be winners and losers in a “Trump 2.0” administration? To assess this, we looked at the performance data between January 2017 (when Trump took office) until January 2020 (the month before the pandemic, as that event skewed markets and overshadowed normal government policies). Potential Policy 1: Tariffs on China. Trump has threatened 60% tariffs on Chinese goods and to revoke China’s “most favored nation” trading status. Obviously, those policies would be negative for Chinese shares and emerging markets more broadly, as they would increase trade tensions. So, that’s presumably negative for ETFs such as the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI), iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) and even the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF (EMXC). How did they trade during the last Trump presidency? From January 2017 to January 2020, FXI returned 12.62%, EEM returned 10.48% and EMXC rose 7.85% compared to a 31% gain for the S&P 500, so Trump’s policies did likely influence China and EM underperformance versus U.S. stocks. Potential Policy 2: Pushing “reciprocal” trade. Trump has stated he wants to reduce the U.S. trade deficit to $0 and would aim to accomplish that via tariffs (10% was floated by Trump last summer) across virtually all nations that export to the United States. Additionally, Trump has stated he would push “reciprocal” trade to try and eliminate tariffs on U.S. goods via threatening additional tariffs on those nations. This would likely be negative for the iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX). How did they trade during the last Trump presidency? From our calculated time period, ACWX rose 12.6% so global markets did lag the S&P 500 during Trump’s presidency. Potential Policy 3: Dismantle Inflation Reduction Act, EVs/green tech. Trump has stated that he wants to dismantle the Inflation Reduction Act via executive actions targeting regulations, executive orders and Department of Justice actions. This would potentially be negative for sustainable investing funds (think Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and similar ETFs) and clean energy and green ETFs such as the Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW). How did they trade during the last Trump presidency? During the said time period, PBW rose 53.12% as clean energy stocks outperformed as fears of punitive ESG and green investing policies never materialized. Potential Policy 4: Boosting oil and gas production. Through reduced regulation, Trump wants to increase domestic oil and gas production. Production did rise during his presidency; however, the results were mixed from a performance standpoint as foreign oil entities (including OPEC) altered production while other forces (the ESG movement) impacted share price performance. This has mixed implications for ETFs such as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) and the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP). How did they trade during the Trump presidency? From January 2017 to January 2020, XLE gained just 3.6% as oil prices were contained while climate focus challenged the long-term investment thesis of many oil and gas companies. Potential Policy 5: Increased defense spending. Trump wants to increase defense spending and it did rise during his presidency via initiatives such as Space Force and other programs. How did they trade during the last Trump presidency? During our measured timeframe, the iShares U.S. Aerospace and Defense ETF (ITA) rose 41%, outperforming the S&P 500. Potential Policy 6: Decreased bank regulation. Trump has stated he wants to ease regulation on banks including easing capital requirements. Additionally, he has openly said he wants to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and that could potentially be negative for interest rates, possibly increasing borrowing demand. How did they trade during the last Trump presidency? During the said timeframe, the SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) rose 13.99% while the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) gained 11.7%, so both sectors lagged the S&P 500. Finally, barring a major surprise, the general election matchup will be Trump versus Biden, so familiarizing ourselves with potential policies (and possible sector winners and losers) is important. We’ll continue to refresh this research throughout the campaign as needed, so regardless of who wins the White House, we know what sectors stand to benefit or suffer depending on the new president’s agenda. ***************************************************************** Something for Nothing No, you don’t get something for nothing You can’t have freedom for free You won’t get wise With the sleep still in your eyes No matter what your dreams might be --RUSH, “Something For Nothing” You’ve likely heard the constant chorus of people who want to achieve things in life, but that also want to do it with as little effort as possible. Indeed, this seems like a mantra for generations after mine (yes, I’m a boomer). Yet, there is no shortcut to success. If you want something, you’re going to have to put work into it. Want more money? Restrict your spending and make good investment decisions. Want a better body? Perform intense strength training and keep your calories slightly below maintenance. Want to live joyously? Do hard things that challenge your mind, body and spirit and that give you a sense of real accomplishment when completed. Because you see, you can’t get something for nothing. Everything in life must be earned and fought for. So, stop dreaming and start doing! Wisdom about money, investing and life can be found anywhere. If you have a good quote that you’d like me to share with your fellow readers, send it to me, along with any comments, questions and suggestions you have about my newsletters, seminars or anything else. [Click here](mailto:askjim@successfuletfinvesting.com) to ask Jim. In the name of the best within us, [Jim Woods] Jim Woods Editor, Successful Investing & Intelligence Report About Jim Woods: [Jim Woods]Jim Woods has more than 25 years experience in the markets, as a stock broker, hedge fund money manager, author, speaker and independent analyst. 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