2025 was a roller‑coaster year for investors, with bold bets paying off big for some and crashing for others.
When former President Donald Trump took office, a wave of crypto projects bearing his name surged. A memecoin he promoted, a token from First Lady Melania, and a mining company tied to the family all shot up, then fell sharply. By the end of the year the Trump memecoin had lost more than 80% of its value, Melania’s token was down nearly 99%, and the mining stock had dropped about 80% from its peak.
Asset manager Scion, led by Michael Burry, bought cheap put options on AI giants Nvidia and Palantir, betting their prices would fall. When the filing became public, both stocks slipped and the Nasdaq dipped. The move highlighted growing doubts about sky‑high AI valuations.
Changes in geopolitics sent European defense makers soaring. Germany’s Rheinmetall rose roughly 150% and Italy’s Leonardo jumped over 90% in 2025. Even ESG‑focused funds began adding defense names, and banks started issuing “European Defence Bonds.”
Heavy debt loads in the U.S., France and Japan sparked a narrative that investors should flee the dollar for gold and crypto. Gold hit all‑time highs, while Bitcoin briefly surged before slipping again. The idea proved mixed: gold stayed strong, but crypto and the dollar later recovered.
South Korea’s main index climbed more than 70% in 2025, helped by President Lee Jae Myung’s pledge to push the KOSPI to 5,000. Foreign money poured in, but local retail investors kept selling Korean stocks for U.S. shares and riskier overseas bets.
Short‑seller Jim Chanos bet against Strategy Shares, a company that held large amounts of Bitcoin, while he went long Bitcoin himself. After a record high in July, Strategy’s shares fell 42% by November, rewarding Chanos’s bet and underscoring crypto’s boom‑and‑bust cycle.
Yields on Japan’s government bonds rose sharply in 2025, breaking a decades‑long low‑rate regime. The jump turned the infamous “widowmaker” short trade into a big winner for those betting bond prices would fall.
Funds that sided against other lenders in the Envision Healthcare debt fight earned roughly 90% returns after the company’s surgery unit was sold for $4 billion. The episode showed how aggressive creditor tactics can be highly lucrative.
Speculation that the Trump administration might privatize the two mortgage giants sent their shares up more than 350% in 2025. Hedge‑fund manager Bill Ackman and later Michael Burry piled in, betting on an IPO that could value the pair at $500 billion.
Investors borrowed cheap foreign money to buy high‑yielding Turkish assets, attracted by 40%+ bond yields. A political shock in March caused a sharp sell‑off, wiping out about $10 billion and leaving the lira 17% weaker for the year.
Smaller defaults, like Saks Global’s bond restructuring and New Fortress Energy’s steep losses, reminded investors that lax underwriting can bite. JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon warned that one “cockroach” often signals many more problems ahead.
These stories show that big narratives can lift assets quickly, but they can also reverse just as fast. Keeping an eye on fundamentals, political risks, and market sentiment can help you avoid getting caught in the next rapid swing.
Remember, this is my view, not a prediction. Do your own research before investing.
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Join TelegramFour Indian companies have just received SEBI’s green light to raise more than ₹1,400 crore through a mix of fresh share issues and offer‑for‑sale (OFS) blocks. Companies cleared for IPOs Knack Packaging – packaging solutions provider. Shivalaya Construction – construction firm. Varmora Granito – tiles and bathware maker. Behari Lal Engineering – engineering and manufacturing company. Amount each company plans to raise Knack Packaging: ₹475 crore (fresh issue) + OFS of 70 lakh shares. Shivalaya Construction: ₹450 crore (fresh issue) + OFS of 2.48 crore shares. Varmora Granito: ₹400 crore (fresh issue) + OFS of 5.24 crore shares. Behari Lal Engineering: ₹110 crore (fresh issue) + OFS of 78.54 lakh shares. Planned use of the fresh‑issue proceeds Knack Packaging – about ₹435 crore to build a new plant in Gujarat; remaining funds for general corporate purposes. Shivalaya Construction – roughly ₹340 crore to repay borrowings; the rest for working capital. Varmora Granito – ₹320 crore to reduce debt; balance for corporate needs. Behari Lal Engineering – capital expenditure, repayment or pre‑payment of loans, and other corporate activities. Why it matters now The approvals arrive as India’s primary market is seeing record‑high fundraising. In 2025, companies have already raised about ₹1.76 lakh crore, well above the ₹1.6 lakh crore in 2024 and the ₹49,436 crore in 2023. Strong domestic liquidity and steady investor demand are driving this surge. What investors should note All four issuers will list on both the BSE and NSE, offering retail and institutional investors a chance to participate. Keep an eye on the allocation details and the pricing timeline once the final prospectuses are published. Disclaimer Remember, this is just an overview and not a recommendation. Do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing.
Horizon Industrial Parks, a major industrial and logistics developer, is launching an IPO to raise up to ₹4,250 crore. Here’s a simple rundown of what the offering includes and why it matters to everyday investors. What the IPO Looks Like The company plans to issue fresh equity shares only – there’s no sale of existing shares. The draft prospectus shows that about ₹2,250 crore of the money raised will go toward paying down existing borrowings. How Much Money Is Being Raised? Fresh equity offer: ₹2,600 crore Pre‑IPO placement (already secured): roughly USD 200 million (≈₹1,650 crore) Total target fund raise: about ₹4,250 crore (≈USD 500 million) Current Ownership Blackstone, the global private‑equity firm, currently holds about 89 % of Horizon Industrial Parks. The IPO will dilute this stake as new shares are issued. Who Has Already Invested? 360 ONE SBI Life Insurance SBI (State Bank of India) Radhakishan Damani EAAA DSP Investments Business Overview Horizon builds, owns, and operates logistics and industrial spaces across India. Its portfolio covers about 60 million sq ft spread over 46 assets in 10 cities. Roughly 95 % of the space is already leased, with more than 100 tenants, including over 60 % Fortune 500 companies. Why Retail Investors Might Care Large, cash‑generating asset base with high occupancy rates. Backed by Blackstone, providing strong financial support. Potential upside if the company continues to grow its footprint and tenant mix. Opportunity to buy into a sector that benefits from India’s expanding e‑commerce and manufacturing activities. Key Takeaways The IPO is mainly about raising fresh capital to clean up debt, while the pre‑IPO investors have already committed a significant portion of the funds. With a solid tenant base and backing from a heavyweight private‑equity firm, Horizon Industrial Parks could be an interesting play for investors looking for exposure to India’s logistics boom. Remember, this is perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing.
Four Indian firms have cleared the regulator’s final hurdle and can now move forward with their public offerings. SEBI gives the green light to four IPOs The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued final observations for four companies, meaning they may now proceed with their initial public offerings. Varmora Granito: Fresh issue of ₹400 crore plus an offer‑for‑sale of 5.24 crore shares by promoters and existing investors. Knack Packaging: Fresh issue of ₹475 crore and an offer‑for‑sale of 70 lakh shares. Shivalaya Construction: Fresh issue of ₹450 crore together with an offer‑for‑sale of 2.48 crore shares. Behari Lal Engineering: Fresh issue of ₹110 crore plus an offer‑for‑sale of 78.54 lakh shares. Infifresh Foods withdraws its IPO filing Infifresh Foods, the B2B seafood platform formerly known as Captain Fresh, had filed a confidential IPO draft for about ₹1,700 crore in August. The company has now withdrawn those offer documents, so the offering will not move forward. What this means for investors With the SEBI approvals, the four companies can start marketing their shares to the public, potentially opening new investment opportunities. The withdrawal of Infifresh’s filing removes one possible listing from the market, which may affect sector‑specific interest. Remember, this is perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.