Fast Facts

Way to Troll, Good Chum- A Norwegian man who was fishing at a depth of 2,600 feet reeled in a ratfish—a rarely seen, bulbous-eyed species dating to 300 million years ago. Oscar Lundahl, 19, had four hooks a half mile deep in the water in search of blue halibut when he “felt something quite big” on the line and slowly brought it to the surface. “I had never seen anything like it before,” he said. “It just looked weird, a bit dinosaur-like.” He later pan-fried the ratfish in butter. “It is a bit like cod,” he said, “but tastier.”

Too bad for the Grandkids- Bugatti sold out of a $33,000 car for kids. The company had produced 500 of the Bugatti Baby II, a 75 percent scale replica of the 1924 Type 35 Lyon Grand Prix car that generates 5.4 horsepower and speeds up to 28 mph.

Crows Hold Grudges!- An Indian villager has been attacked by a group of vengeful crows every day for the past three years. Shiva Kewat of Sumela said the “sudden and frightening” assaults began after he tried to rescue a chick who’d become stuck in iron netting. “It died in my hands,” he said. “They believe I killed the chick.” Kewat said the squawking birds dive-bomb only him, not other people, and that the attacks commence the moment he leaves his house. “If only I can explain to them, I was only trying to help.”

Weekly Focus – Think About It

“Having a superpower has nothing to do with the ability to fly or jump, or superhuman strength. The truest superpowers are the ones we all possess: willpower, integrity, and, most importantly, courage.”      –Jason Reynolds, American author and poet

The Markets

They say bull markets climb a wall of worry.

Investopedia’s Will Kenton explained the idea like this:

“…a bull market isn’t a peaceful place. When times are good, investors are constantly tense, wondering how long they will keep rolling, fretting about when a seemingly inevitable correction will finally put a stop to the market elation. As a market continues ascending, the decision can become increasingly agonizing whether to take profits in a position or let it ride.”

Last week, the wall of worry gained a few feet.

The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers indicated confidence improved in September, which appeared to be positive news. However, the report suggested positive sentiment is eroding. “More consumers reported unfavorable news about the economy in September than in eight years since September 2011. While a good share of the news involved tariffs and other economic policies, there were nearly as many reports on job losses as job gains.”

Reports the administration is considering ways to limit investment in China had investors concerned about possible portfolio repercussions. The steps being considered include regulating U.S. government pensions’ exposure to Chinese stocks, regulating stock indices’ allocations to Chinese holdings, and delisting Chinese shares from U.S. stock exchanges, reported Bloomberg.

The Federal Reserve’s daily liquidity injections into the repurchase agreement market, which underpins U.S. money markets, were a source of concern for some. The Economist reported, “Market-watchers blamed the cash crunch on firms’ need to pay corporate-tax bills at the same time as sucking up more new government debt than usual. But banks were aware of these factors well ahead of time. Other, as yet poorly understood, forces seemed to have provided the nudge that tipped repo markets into disarray.”

The announcement of a Presidential impeachment inquiry was big news that had a relatively small affect on U.S. stock markets last week.

Major U.S. stock indices finished the week lower.

BEE FRIENDLY. When people travel, decisions about where to stay are determined by location, price, and amenities. One valued perk is loyalty points. While there is no official valuation assigned to reward points, estimates of value range from 0.3 cents to 1.6 cents per point, according to UpgradedPoints.com.

Hotels entice guests with other types of perks, too. These can be simple, like making forgotten toiletries available at no cost or having coffee makers and bottled water in rooms. As lodgings move up the luxury scale, amenities become more sublime. Some luxury hotels offer:

• All-you-can-eat ice cream
• In-room arcade games
• Yoga mats
• Designer bath salts
• Fragrance butlers
• Loaner Vespas

The latest hotel buzz is bees.

Hotels are hosting bee colonies. The Washington Post reported:

“The purpose of putting beehives atop the hotel is to support bee research and bring attention to a larger issue: the importance of pollinators and the threats they face…According to a 2016 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report, 75 percent of the world’s food crops – including almonds, avocados, chocolate, and coffee – are dependent on pollination, and one of every three bites we eat is thanks to the work of pollinators.”

Some hotels collect the honey and infuse it into food, drinks, and skin care products for guests.

Best regards,

John Klevens, CFP

This material is intended to provide general financial education and is not written or intended as tax or legal advice and may not be relied upon for purposes of avoiding any Federal tax penalties. Individuals are encouraged to seek advice from their own tax or legal counsel. Individuals involved in the estate planning process should work with an estate planning team, including their own personal legal or tax counsel. This material is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities.

Securities and Advisory Services offered by John Klevens through KMS Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC and an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Klevens Capital Management and KMS are separate and unaffiliated.

Sources: The Week Magazine, PopularMechanics.com
Portions of this newsletter have been prepared by Peak Advisor