Snapshots That Wow!

Diamonds are (for ever)yday?

The share of lab grown diamonds in the US has now overtaken natural diamonds making this luxury more accessible and therefore no longer a luxury? I guess the ad agencies need to conjure a new marketing line vs. diamonds are forever.

Source: Business Intelligence

Under before the hurricane struck!

17% of US consumers had unpaid bills at some point in 2023, according to the latest annual Fed Survey.

Nearly 27% of consumers who rent their homes were unable to pay their bills in full.

Notably, 11% of them did not pay water, gas, or electric bills, the most among all categories.

Source: Kobeissi Letter

IRA- giving sun’s power to solar!

Since the passage of the inflation reduction act (IRA) in 2022, solar and battery manufacturing have been the big winners in the US.

In the IRA, Congress passed an extension of the credit, raising it to 30% for solar installations between 2022 and 2032.

IRA also provides for a credit of $35 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for domestically produced battery cells, and $10/kWh for domestically produced battery modules

Source: RMI Graphic

Wisdom of crowds turns to folly of a mob!

The second most crowded traded going into September 2024 was to short China equities. Hang Seng is up 26%+; the index is up 26%+ in a single month. RIP.

Source: BofA Global Fund Manager Survey

Mid-Life Bonanza!

176,218 bookings in 60 minutes!

We guess with this the co. might just be able to come through on their promise of making THAR the largest SUV brand in the country (currently it is the third largest for the co).

First the 350-450cc bikes taking off and now the 5 door Thar- are the mid-lifers taking all excuses to justify their sensible purchases or is the brand just so damn good! Regardless, we are and remain proud shareholders!

Source: M&M

A sky full of stars!

Since this edition is being written in Kashmir, and we all have Coldplay on our minds, it was only fitting to share this photograph we shot using an iPhone 14.P