H1 2025: What Went Down

The first half of 2025 was a wild ride. The U.S. markets were all over the place — S&P 500 and Nasdaq took hits early on, thanks to tariff talk and the Fed messing with rates. Tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Alphabet got smacked in a late 2024/early 2025 correction but started climbing back by spring. Over in Europe, markets like the MSCI Europe were shaky with trade war vibes, while Asia was a mixed bag — China’s CSI 300 got a boost from stimulus, and Japan’s Nikkei had its moments. Sectors like AI, clean energy, and healthcare were hot. Oh, and crypto? Bitcoin was on a tear, probably kissing $80K-$100K, riding that post-2024 halving wave and big-money hype.

Tech Bargains in the Dip

The Nasdaq tanked 10%+ early 2025 — tariffs spooked everyone, and tech got hammered. Stocks like Nvidia and Alphabet were stupid cheap for a minute (think Alphabet at a P/E of 20, way below normal). By June, they were roaring back, with Nvidia maybe up 25% on AI chip mania and Alphabet riding its cloud and robotics bets. If you blinked during the dip, you missed the bounce.

Why It Hurts: You’ve been into tech names like Apple before. Waiting for the “right” moment probably left some serious gains on the table.

Chinese Stocks Making a Comeback

China was a rollercoaster, but stocks like Alibaba, BYD, and PDD — ones you’ve poked at in our chats — got a lift from Beijing’s stimulus and export strength. These were dirt-cheap early on, with PDD’s low P/E screaming value. By mid-2025, they were up 15-25%, especially BYD with its EV domination.

Why It Hurts: You’ve eyed Chinese dividend plays like Tencent. Skipping these because of regulatory jitters or bad press meant missing a solid rebound.

Bitcoin’s Big Run

Crypto went nuts, with Bitcoin likely hitting $80K-$100K. Institutional cash poured in, and the 2024 halving kept the supply tight. If you were eyeing it back when we talked crypto (you were curious about its long-term pop-off), those dips around $60K were the time to jump.

Why It Hurts: You’re cool with high-risk bets like $TSLL. Missing this rally probably stings if you leaned too cautious.

Why These Slipped Through

Fear Factor: Tariff noise and Fed moves made everyone nervous, especially on tech and Chinese stocks.

Playing It Safe: Crypto and small-caps scared off the faint-hearted, even if you’re usually game for risk.

Bad Timing: Waiting for the dust to settle meant missing the early moves when stocks and crypto turned up.