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<p>Recently, a major event unfolded when the US successfully detained Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, during a daring weekend operation. He has since been brought to New York, where he faces serious charges related to drug trafficking and arms dealing. Despite the dramatic nature of this news, financial and commodity markets have largely remained unfazed.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/markets-barely-blink-after-us-removes-venezuelas-maduro/#more-25173" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/markets-barely-blink-after-us-removes-venezuelas-maduro/" title="7:28 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2026-01-07T07:28:34-05:00">January 7, 2026</time></a>
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<p>Following two consecutive quarters of robust growth, the US economy appears set for a slowdown, as indicated by the latest GDP nowcasts from CapitalSpectator.com. This anticipated decline is notable; however, it is not expected to signal the onset of a recession at this time.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/us-economy-expected-to-cool-in-q4-based-on-latest-nowcasts/#more-25169" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/us-economy-expected-to-cool-in-q4-based-on-latest-nowcasts/" title="7:03 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2026-01-06T07:03:28-05:00">January 6, 2026</time></a>
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<p>Long-term projections for the Global Market Index (GMI) remain consistent, with an expected annualized total return of over 7%. This outlook, based on data analyzed through December, has shown a stable trend, with a slight increase when compared to last month's figures.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/total-return-forecasts-major-asset-classes-02-december-2025/">last month’s estimate.</a></p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/total-return-forecasts-major-asset-classes-5-january-2026/#more-25166" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/total-return-forecasts-major-asset-classes-5-january-2026/" title="6:53 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2026-01-05T06:53:20-05:00">January 5, 2026</time></a>
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<p><a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/web.04jan2025.png"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-25165 alignleft" src="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/web.04jan2025.png" alt="" width="139" height="209" /></a>● <a href="https://amzn.to/494Z8UF">The Web Beneath the Waves: The Fragile Cables that Connect our World</a><br/>Samanth Subramanian<br/><strong><a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/power-hangs-by-a-literal-thread/">Review</a> via Los Angeles Review of Books</strong><br/>Nearly two decades ago, during a congressional debate on net neutrality, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska described the internet as a “series of tubes.” This quirky remark quickly became a meme, reflecting an earlier era when telecommunications heavily relied on physical infrastructures like switchboard operators, wires, and cables.<br/>Reflecting on that statement today, it appears less absurd. Samanth Subramanian’s insightful book, *The Web Beneath the Waves: The Fragile Cables That Connect Our World*, emphasizes that the internet is indeed underpinned by physical networks of fiber-optic cables, akin to a system of glass tubes. While we often think of the internet as an abstract entity—terms like “the cloud” and “Ethernet cable” reinforce this perception—it is fundamentally reliant on tangible infrastructure. Despite the illusion of virtuality, the internet's underlying structure comprises fragile cables, with the most crucial ones lying deep beneath the oceans. Remarkably, 99% of the world’s data traverses these slender filaments, which are merely three inches wide. However, these underwater threads, serving as the world’s data superhighways, are highly susceptible to natural disasters, maritime accidents, and outright sabotage, rendering this submerged segment of global data infrastructure particularly vulnerable.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/book-bits-4-january-2026/#more-25162" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/book-bits-4-january-2026/" title="8:02 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2026-01-04T08:02:15-05:00">January 4, 2026</time></a>
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<p>Despite enduring a year of volatility in 2025, global markets ended on a positive note, with all major asset classes registering gains as of December 31, based on a selection of ETFs. This outcome made it particularly challenging for passive global asset allocation strategies to outperform in 2025, especially for portfolios that were heavily skewed toward US assets while underestimating the importance of international diversification.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/major-asset-classes-december-2025-performance-review/#more-25159" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/major-asset-classes-december-2025-performance-review/" title="7:29 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2026-01-02T07:29:55-05:00">January 2, 2026</time></a>
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<p><a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/christmas.2025.png"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-25155 alignleft" src="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/christmas.2025.png" alt="" width="134" height="212" /></a>The Capital Spectator is closing its editorial operations for the holiday season as we wind down for the year. After our team wraps up the final assessments and reviews the market activities, we will resume on Friday, January 2, with a recap of how the major asset classes performed throughout 2025.</p>
<p>Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year!</p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/its-time-to-deck-the-halls-raise-a-glass-and-make-a-quick-exit/" title="7:14 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2025-12-23T07:14:27-05:00">December 23, 2025</time></a>
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<p>Pinpointing the exact reasons behind stock market fluctuations can be quite complex. However, the recent decline in interest rates has undoubtedly played a significant role in bolstering equity prices this year. A pressing question for 2026 is whether this favorable trend will persist.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/will-the-bond-market-help-keep-stocks-humming-in-2026/#more-25148" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/will-the-bond-market-help-keep-stocks-humming-in-2026/" title="7:57 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2025-12-22T07:57:03-05:00">December 22, 2025</time></a>
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<p><strong>The United States is actively seeking a third oil tanker linked to Venezuela, highlighting the rising tensions between the two nations.</strong> The US Coast Guard's “active pursuit” of the tanker relates to a “sanctioned dark fleet vessel involved in Venezuela's illegal sanction evasion,” according to a US official <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99722j4lkgo">said.</a> “It is flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order.” This situation is contributing to an increase in oil prices today. “The market is beginning to recognize that the current administration is adopting a stringent stance toward Venezuelan oil trade,” <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-prices-gain-us-interception-venezuelan-oil-tanker-over-weekend-2025-12-22/">noted</a> June Goh, a senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/brent.22dec2025.png"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25146" src="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/brent.22dec2025.png" alt="" width="972" height="463" /></a></p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/macro-briefing-22-december-2025/#more-25145" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/macro-briefing-22-december-2025/" title="6:48 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2025-12-22T06:48:04-05:00">December 22, 2025</time></a>
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<p>This marks the second part of our year-end review of the Book Bits columns published in 2025, following last week’s <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/best-of-book-bits-2025-part-i/">prelude.</a> Enjoy your reading!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rethink.13feb2025.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-23552 alignleft" src="https://www.capitalspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rethink.13feb2025.png" alt="" width="143" height="196"/></a>● <a href="https://amzn.to/3X1GLcJ">Rethinking Investing: A Very Short Guide to Very Long-Term Investing</a><br/>Charles D. Ellis<br/><strong><a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Rethinking+Investing%3A+A+Very+Short+Guide+to+Very+Long+Term+Investing-p-9781394328291">Summary</a> via publisher (Wiley)</strong><br/>In just ten engaging chapters, *Rethinking Investing: A Very Short Book on Very Long-Term Investing* offers simple guidelines that anyone can follow to enhance their investment strategies. The book confronts misconceptions about the importance of investment managers, sheds light on emotional biases that may cloud our financial decision-making, champions index funds as a wise investment choice, and elucidates strategic moves, such as why waiting until age 70 to claim Social Security benefits may be more advantageous—accompanied by clear calculations to clarify the reasoning. Authored by esteemed investor and popular writer Charley Ellis, this invaluable guide illustrates how to optimize one's investment endeavors.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/best-of-book-bits-2025-part-ii/#more-25119" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/best-of-book-bits-2025-part-ii/" title="7:26 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2025-12-20T07:26:58-05:00">December 20, 2025</time></a>
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<p>The market premium for the 10-year Treasury yield continues to hover at a narrow margin above its “fair value” estimate, based on data from three models analyzed by CapitalSpectator.com.</p>
<p> <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/market-premium-for-10-year-yield-holding-near-2-1-2-year-low/#more-25142" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span></a></p>
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By James Picerno | <a href="https://www.capitalspectator.com/market-premium-for-10-year-yield-holding-near-2-1-2-year-low/" title="7:15 am" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2025-12-19T07:15:35-05:00">December 19, 2025</time></a>
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