Group 1: Nigeria's Security Situation - A recent armed attack in Zamfara State, Nigeria, resulted in at least 38 fatalities, highlighting the deteriorating security conditions in the region [2][10] - The ongoing crisis involves both Islamic militants and criminal gangs, which are engaged in cattle rustling and mass kidnappings, affecting the stability of the iShares MSCI Nigeria ETF (NGE) [3][10] - The Nigerian military has received assistance from 100 U.S. troops to train local forces against insurgent groups, but challenges remain due to porous borders and the emergence of new militant factions [4][10] Group 2: Middle East Diplomatic Tensions - The Arab League condemned statements from the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, labeling them as "extremely extremist" and a threat to regional peace, amidst rising diplomatic tensions [5][10] - This condemnation follows international criticism of Israel's actions towards the de facto annexation of the West Bank, with the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling the remarks "absurd and provocative" [6][10] - The UN Secretary-General has urged for urgent diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation, as the U.S. and Iran exchange military warnings, impacting energy security and market participants' assessments [7][10]

Core Insights - Wall Street faced significant volatility in 2025, while international markets showed stability or growth, driven by trade uncertainties under the Trump administration impacting the U.S. economy more severely than international markets [1] U.S. vs International Market Performance - The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS) increased by 23.9% in 2025, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) rose by 16.4%. The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) gained approximately 21%, and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) advanced by 13.5% [4] - International ETFs outperformed U.S. benchmarks, with the Vanguard Tax Managed Fund FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) up 29.6%, iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA) up about 40%, and iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) up 36.2% [5][11] Valuation Comparisons - International markets were generally undervalued compared to U.S. stocks, with the P/E ratio of the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) at 17.68X compared to the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) at 28.86X [6] - Other international ETFs like iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) had a P/E ratio of 16.33X, and iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) traded at 10.69X, indicating lower valuations compared to U.S. counterparts [7] Economic Policies Impacting Performance - The European Central Bank engaged in rate cuts earlier in 2025, while India and China implemented various policy stimuli. In contrast, the U.S. focused on budget cuts and reduced federal expenditures, with the Federal Reserve enacting three rate cuts starting in September [8][9] High-Dividend ETFs Performance - High-dividend global ETFs showed strong returns, with First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) up 46%, iShares MSCI Israel ETF (EIS) up 45.1%, and iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) up 42.4% [13][14][15]

Core Insights - The phrase "sell Rosh Hashanah, buy Yom Kippur" reflects a historical trading strategy linked to market behavior around the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, suggesting a seasonal tendency for stocks to decline at the start of the Jewish New Year and recover afterward [4][5]. Group 1: Historical Context - On September 23, 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower suffered a heart attack, causing a significant market sell-off due to concerns over his health, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 6.5% the following trading day [2][3]. - The market reaction coincided with Yom Kippur, a day of self-reflection in the Jewish calendar, which has since contributed to the development of the trading adage [3]. Group 2: Current Market Analysis - The article suggests that while the "sell Rosh Hashanah, buy Yom Kippur" strategy has shown some evidence of effectiveness, it may be more of a correlation rather than a causative factor in stock performance [5]. - The focus is on identifying promising stocks, particularly those based in Israel, which is recognized as a global technology leader despite its small size, using stock analysis tools to create a watchlist of potential investments [5][6]. - The iShares MSCI Israel ETF (EIS), which has over $360 million in assets, is highlighted as a significant vehicle for investing in Israeli stocks listed on U.S. exchanges [6].