Déjà Vu

2020 & 2024

AI is great at pattern recognition.

It has unveiled uncanny parallels between early 2020 and 2024, inspiring the below imaginary letter.

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Letter from the future

Hi Ed,

Greetings!

Since today is 1st April 2025, let me write an April Fool's Day letter from my future self to you.

Here are some insights:

• Same same, but different?

• Violence is the new Virus!

• Uncanny resemblance

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Same same, but different?

Remember early 2020?

Major US indices were hitting record highs. The S&P500 index rose 10% from late 2019 through early 2020.

Back then, the FAANGs were propelling the S&P500 to record highs, fueled by 5G technology.

Similarly, in early 2024,

Major US indices were setting record highs again. This time round, the rally is larger with the S&P500 index surging 16% from late 2023 through early 2024.

Instead of FAANGs, the Magnificent 7 stocks and their thriving AI technology are driving the S&P500 index to new heights.

Violence is the new Virus!

The similarities do not end here.

In 2020, we had the COVID crash.

This time, people are not dying from a virus. Instead, it is the Red Sea of violence that is killing people in war-torn areas such as Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

The parallels continue with both the Red Sea crisis and the COVID crisis beginning in December. Astonishingly, in both instances, the US markets initially shrugged off these concerns and ascended to record highs.

Uncanny resemblance

Spooky, right?

The parallels between 2020 and 2024 are enough to give anyone goosebumps. I am not going to spoil the suspense by revealing what comes next, but a little reminder of 2020 might be in order.

Remember how the S&P500 index crashed 33% from January 19th over two months due to the COVID-19 virus?

So, buckle up, my Ed.

This time around, the Hang Seng China Enterprise index has already dropped 12%, compared to the 8% rise in the same corresponding period in early 2020.

History may not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes, and the echoes of the past can be heard in the present.

Now, I know you have the foresight to make AI-powered decisions, but this letter is not just for you. It is for your blog readers too.

They might brush this off as a foolish joke, but as the saying goes, the fool ignores the lessons of history.

Happy April's Fool Day!

Cheers,

Your Future Ed