Weekend Reading – BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETP Starts Trading On Multiple European Exchanges
Weekend Reading is a collection of Investment Research and Lifestyle topics from all corners of the Web. We source the highest quality insights from Wall Street and Main Street that you may apply to your investment process. Unlike the rest of Bankeronwheels.com, this series is provided without additional guidance. As usual, everything is to be used at your own risk. Below is the type of content we shortlist:
Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before
Featured
Licence to Yield – The Definitive Guide To Bond Index Investing (Banker on Wheels)
This guide is your mission dossier, equipped to be the ultimate – and indeed, final – resource you’ll ever need to master the art of Bond ETFs. From outlining which bond categories are best for different objectives in “Live and Let Buy”, to explaining why holding bond ETFs is beneficial even when prices dip in “Cash in Not Enough”, we demystify the intricate world of Bond ETFs.
Portfolio Construction
Asset Allocation
UBS Deep Dive: The Diversification Edition (UBS)
At first glance, few would argue against the logic of diversification: ‘Spread your risk’, ‘think in bets’. The reality is more complex though. The psychological temptation to jettison portfolio diversity when only a handful of technology stocks would have served well, as would a decision by US investor to stay domestic, is huge. And not just for private investors. This publication is dedicated to exploring the tough realities of understanding and achieving diversification. We interview Professor Paul Marsh, an academic with singular access to market returns data stretching back over 100 years. He offers insights gleaned from crunching correlation data over the last 25 years.
Understand Financial Markets
Can the dollar remain king of currencies? (FT)
When economists seek to account for the dollar’s outsize role as the only true global currency, they point to structural factors such as the US share of world GDP, or the depth and liquidity of US financial markets. This approach underlies the sanguine view of many financial market participants that, come what may, so long as the US remains the world’s leading economy, the dollar will remain its safe haven. The second Trump administration is a reminder that raw numbers can only take us so far.
How To Invest
Active Investing
Factor Investing
Discretionary Investing
Sustainable Investing
Alternative Asset Classes
Why Has the Price of Gold Risen So Sharply? (Econ Fact)
The price of gold has jumped over 40 percent since the end of 2023, reaching $3,000 per ounce in mid-March 2025. This leap cannot be explained by a sudden increase in the demand for gold as jewelry or for its use in industrial production. Rather, it reflects the shifting demand for the yellow metal as a financial asset. Historically, gold has been held by private investors who see gold as a good way to protect wealth during inflationary periods or when there is substantial economic or political uncertainty.
Wall Street
Bad Bets
- Dubai’s Billion-Dollar Crypto Underworld (Bloomberg)
- Saudi Arabia's Megaproject Disaster! (Patrick Boyle)
- These funds managed to lose value for shareholders even during a generally bullish market. (Morningstar)
- Billions Flowed Into New Leveraged ETFs Last Year. Now They’re in Free Fall. (Wall Street Journal)
ETFs
UCITS ETFs
BlackRock debuts physical bitcoin ETP in Europe (ETF Stream)
BlackRock has announced its widely anticipated entry into Europe’s cryptocurrency exchange-traded product (ETP) market with a physically backed bitcoin strategy. The iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) debuts with total expense ratio (TER) of 0.15% but this will rise to 0.25% at year-end when the temporary fee waiver ends. Domiciled in Switzerland and backed by bitcoin held in cold storage through Coinbase, IB1T has begun trading on Deutsche Boerse, Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam.
US ETFs
Wealth Management
Personal Finance
Inflation Rate Across Europe (everythingaboutmaps )
This map, based on TradingEconomics (Feb/Jan 2025), illustrates the inflation rates across European countries. The colors indicate variations in inflation, with lighter shades representing lower inflation and darker shades representing higher inflation. 🔎 Key Highlights: ✅ Lowest Inflation: Switzerland (0.3%) 🇨🇭 maintains remarkable price stability. ❌ Highest Inflation: Turkey (39.05%) 🇹🇷 experiences extreme inflation, far above the European average. 📊 Euro Area Average: 2.4%, indicating moderate inflation within the EU.
(Early) Retirement
Why My Father's Last Words Convinced Me To Retire Early (azul)
Azul shares a deeply personal story about how his father's final words influenced his decision to retire early. He reflects on the importance of cherishing time and reassessing life's priorities, emphasizing that his father's passing prompted him to seek a more fulfilling and balanced life. He advocates for listeners to evaluate their own life choices and consider what truly brings them joy and satisfaction.
Financial Advice
2025 Wealth Industry Survey: The eve of disruption (Natixis)
Wealth managers rank geopolitical conflict as the number-one economic risk in the next 12 months. But along with wide-scale political change, wealth managers are faced with economic uncertainty, rapid technological advancements and a wave of industry consolidation, making disruption a genuine concern in 2025. Increased client demand for broader services and access to more sophisticated investments raise the stakes even further.
Design Your Lifestyle
Personal Development
Craig Mod is a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo and Kamakura, Japan. He is the author of Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa. He also writes the newsletters Roden and Ridgeline and has contributed to The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired, and more. The talk includes how Craig wound up back in Japan to work in publishing and Craig’s journey to self-worth: Running, charging more for work, and building confidence.
- ‘Time Affluence’ Is a Different Way to Think About Wealth (Life Hacker)
- Are You Spending Your Life on Things You Actually Enjoy and Care About? (10% Happier with Dan Harris )
- Brett McKay explains what he's learned covering health and living better. (Two Percent)
- The Anatomy of Marital Happiness (SSRN)
Health & Wellness
- Europe’s Tobacco Use By Country (Visual Capitalist)
- Measles remains a danger to health even years after an infection (NPR)
- Why Are Birthrates Plummeting Worldwide? (Patrick Boyle)
- All of the World’s Countries Ranked by How Happy They Are (Visual Capitalist)
- DNA testing firm 23andMe files for bankruptcy as demand dries up (Reuters)
Careers & Entrepreneurship
The Substack Gold Rush: Who’s Winning and Why? (Behind the balance sheet)
I recently realised that I have been writing this Substack for nearly 3 years – I started in March, 2022. I thought this was a good excuse to take a broader look at finance Substacks and to review my journey and future direction. Finance Substack is a recent phenomenon and has shown impressive growth.
Travel
Tech & Economy
Economy
Norway - A Hidden Trillion Dollar Oil Empire | 2025 Documentary (FinAIus)
Norway is a Utopia Built on Oil! Discover how a small Nordic nation transformed black gold into a $1.6 trillion sovereign empire. This documentary uncovers Norway’s rise from modest beginnings to global financial power, revealing the secret strategies, oil riches, and political choices that built the world’s most successful and quietly dominant wealth machine.
Tech & Science
And Finally
33 European Defense Companies (the.world.in.maps)
As Europe strengthens its defense capabilities in response to the evolving geopolitical landscape, the role of its leading defense companies has never been more critical. Among the world’s top 100 defense firms, 33 are European, reflecting the continent’s robust military-industrial sector. These companies will be instrumental in bolstering Europe’s defense infrastructure, supplying cutting-edge weaponry, and ensuring strategic autonomy.
Good Luck and Keep’em* Rolling!
(* Wheels & Dividends)
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How You Can Cycle The World – A Practical Guide
Weekend Reading – Vanguard Cuts Fees across 15 ETFs & IBKR launches prediction markets
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