Why we can’t have nice things

[The beef 675] [I'm an image] “We finally know what war is good for: oil prices.” - Jason, on the latest drama in the Middle East [Read The Beef Online - Click Here]( Hey there carnivores, Markets fell on Friday amid turmoil in the Middle East. And today we’re diving deep on WTF is going on in the Middle East. Keep raging, Jeff & Jason [Image] [I'm an image] Why we can’t have nice things “I’m not freaking out, you're freaking out.” - every able-bodied male in the US The US confirmed the [death]( of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani following a drone strike that took place Friday AM at Baghdad International Airport. "I'll take 'Bombs Over Baghdad' for $800, Alex." The Iranian General was responsible for an attack on a US Embassy in Baghdad earlier in the week and had plotted other attacks against Uncle Sam's interests in the region. Unsurprisingly, Iranian leaders vowed retaliation, and thus began the flood of WWIII memes that took us into the weekend. As of Sunday evening, Iran had indicated it would no longer [comply]( with a 2015 nuclear deal. And that wasn't the only fallout. Iraq [called]( for US troops to GTFO of the country ASAP. And so it begins. So, what happened to markets? Initially, on Friday, the Dow fell more violently than a Tomahawk cruise missile headed for a terrorist just trying to make his connection, dropping 350 points before clawing its way back right in time for happy hour. By the end of the day the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq lost 0.81%, 0.71%, and 0.79%, respectively. Meanwhile, [oil prices surged]( to over $70 per barrel, the highest since April. And gold [rose]( 1.5%, nearing a 6-year high after news of sh*t hitting the fan broke. Make love, not war But it isn't time to go all doomsday prepper just yet. According to what amounts to wartime oddsmakers (no, seriously), odds of a "[hot war](" are roughly 40%. Of that 40%, there is a 70% of a limited conflict (lasting less than a week), and 30% chance of major conflict (ongoing regional war). So you're saying there's a chance. The expected loss in global GDP from a major conflict between the US and Iran would be 0.5% The bottom line... In times of crisis, [stock markets typically drop](. Investors want to take profits and get money into safer assets like bonds, gold, and other commodities. And presumably... dogecoin. After an initial bump in bonds and gold though, stocks typically bounce back according to CNBC’s analysis of markets after 20 “crisis events”. So, what’s the point? Well, barring any further conflict the stock market rally will hinge more on the trade war resolution rather than the potential war with Iran. [I'm an image] Tuesdays with Jeffrey... Jeff Williams is taking precious time from making it rain to share his revolutionary small account secrets [THIS TUESDAY.]( [I WANT IN.]( [I'm an image] ☑️ Dottie, read back the minutes. The Fed [released the minutes]( from its mid-December meeting on Friday. According to the transcript, it appears the Fed has no plans to reverse its rate cuts… or really do much of anything. Interest rates were cut three times between July and October 2019, to a range between 1.5% to 1.75%. Fed officials believe that future economic growth is largely dependent on an end to US-China trade tensions. Stay tuned... ☑️ Logging off. The US military is [banning its members]( from using TikTok, and not just because US soldiers will focus on making the illest Toks instead of defeating Iran. The move comes over security concerns tied to TikTok’s ownership, which happens to be a tech company in China. Service members won’t be allowed to use the app on government-issued phones, and buying a burner just for TikTok seems like overkill. ☑️ Closing out. Michael Goguen, a former Sequoia Capital partner, scored a major W in a California courtroom. Goguen’s former mistress extorted him by threatening to publish false claims that she gave him an STD. Goguen allegedly paid his mistress [more than $40M]( in hush money. In addition to being paid back more than $10M, Goguen will also get a restraining order against his former side-piece. Something I’m sure his wife will appreciate. ☑️ Listicles don’t pay. BuzzFeed laid off 250 people and lost more than $50M last year, but it looks like 2020 is a [new year, new me]( situation. CEO Jonah Peretti believes BuzzFeed will be profitable in 2020. LOL. Since diversifying its revenue streams, including the addition of a line of kitchenware and a chain of knockoff Spencer’s stores, the new media company appears to have turned a corner. According to Peretti, the new lines of business brought in more than $200M last year. Turns out that stealing content from Twitter to sell ads wasn’t a sustainable business model. ☑️ Broke boi. Tim Cook’s [pay took a hit]( in 2019, but don’t cry for the scorned billionaire just yet. Cook’s total compensation dropped 8% from $136M, but he still brought home a cool $125M. Cook’s salary only accounted for $3M of the aforementioned comp, but $113.5M in Apple shares vested. Since becoming the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook has made $963M total. RagingBull, LLC 62 Calef Hwy. #233, Lee, NH 03861 Neither Raging Bull nor RagingBull.com, LLC (publisher of Raging Bull) is registered as an investment adviser nor a broker/dealer with either the U. S. Securities & Exchange Commission or any state securities regulatory authority. Users of this website are advised that all information presented on this website is solely for informational purposes, is not intended to be used as a personalized investment recommendation, and is not attuned to any specific portfolio or to any user's particular investment needs or objectives. Past performance is NOT indicative of future results. Furthermore, such information is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor is it to be construed as a recommendation to buy, hold or sell (short or otherwise) any security. All users of this website must determine for themselves what specific investments to make or not make and are urged to consult with their own independent financial advisors with respect to any investment decision. The reader bears responsibility for his/her own investment research and decisions, should seek the advice of a qualified securities professional before making any investment, and investigate and fully understand any and all risks before investing. All opinions, analyses and information included on this website are based on sources believed to be reliable and written in good faith, but should be independently verified, and no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, is made, including but not limited to any representation or warranty concerning accuracy, completeness, correctness, timeliness or appropriateness. In addition, we undertake no responsibility to notify such opinions, analyses or information or to keep such opinions, analyses or information current. Also be aware that owners, employees and writers of and for RagingBull.com, LLC may have long or short positions in securities that may be discussed on this website or newsletter. Past results are not indicative of future profits. This table is accurate, though not every trade is represented. Profits and losses reported are actual figures from the portfolios Raging Bull manages on behalf of RagingBull.com, LLC. If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below: [Click Here to stop receiving emails from support@ragingbull.com]( [Unsubscribe from all RagingBull emails](