In a somewhat unsettled mood—and determined not to sleep tonight so as not to disturb others—I found myself slipping into a familiar rhythm from my student years. Not to study, not to analyze, but simply to observe how the enormous, diversified “machine” we’ve built behaves when the world decides to get a little dramatic.
Think of it as a live stress test… with coffee instead of textbooks.
The night, as expected, did not disappoint.
Headlines were loud enough to wake even the most disciplined long-term investor: bombers taking off, oil prices doing their best impression of a bungee jump, and younger investors speed-dialing friends to collectively declare the end of capitalism (again). Aviation stocks, of course, were pronounced dead—briefly, loudly, and with great confidence.
As tradition dictates.
But beneath all this theatrical panic, the data quietly went about its business.
What Actually Happened (Minus the Drama)
Let’s stick to reality:
Negotiations involving Donald Trump and Iran continue—never boring, always market-moving.
Oil prices dropped a sharp 15%—apparently gravity still works.
Our diversified portfolios… went up. Yes, even while major indices were having a difficult quarter.
Core investments in rare earth minerals remain stable and are actually growing—because, as it turns out, modern industry still needs actual materials.
The rare earth space is particularly interesting right now. Supply is tight, especially for tungsten and heavy magnetic elements. A large portion of production is being redirected toward defense needs—missiles, electronics, and everything that tends to appear in headlines later.
With increasing calls for massive security spending—numbers as high as $2 trillion being discussed—the sector isn’t just relevant; it’s structurally supported.
Where We’re Placing Our Bets
While the market debates whether to panic now or panic later, we’ve focused on two sectors that, in our view, are more likely to outperform than underperform.
Aviation (Yes, Really)
When everyone runs away from an industry, it’s usually worth at least walking toward it.
We’re looking at major European players like Deutsche Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and Norwegian Air Shuttle.
Aviation has a habit of doing two things: scaring people at the wrong time and recovering when no one believes it will.
A small but telling detail: a member of the Deutsche Lufthansa board recently bought €375,000 worth of shares. Insider buying like that is rarely driven by boredom.
Construction Materials
Our second favorite: construction materials.
Not the most glamorous sector—no one brags about cement at dinner—but historically a very profitable one when regions start rebuilding.
We’ve positioned ourselves in major European companies expected to participate in reconstruction across Eastern Europe and the Middle East. When infrastructure spending ramps up, these companies don’t just benefit—they lead.
A Bit of Timeless Wisdom
As Warren Buffett put it (with his usual calm while everyone else panics):
“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”
Simple. Difficult. Effective.
Currency Corner (The Quiet Overachievers)
While equities grab headlines, currencies have been doing their job—quietly and efficiently.
· Australian Dollar (AUD):
Our bet on AUD-denominated bonds continues to pay off. The currency is up around 15% against the U.S. dollar over the past year and still trending upward. Not bad for something people only remember when it moves.
· Norwegian Krone (NOK):
A personal favorite. Up roughly 11.5% against the dollar, backed by a strong fiscal position, budget surplus, and a default risk so low (~0.22%) it’s almost boring—which, in bonds, is exactly what you want.
Final Thoughts
Markets love drama. Portfolios, on the other hand, prefer discipline.
While headlines compete for attention, diversified strategies continue to do what they’re supposed to do—work.
So no, this isn’t the end of the world.
It’s just another episode.
And so far, a profitable one.
Aleksei Andrievskii is the founder of the ANDRIEVSKII SEA WEALTH family office in Cyprus, a member of the advisory board at Bendura Bank AG, Liechtenstein