Globes Publisher: Investment Timing Crucial, Even in Popular Trends
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Globes Publisher Alona Bar-On opened a conference stressing that investment timing is crucial, even for popular trends, citing the Luv Luv toy's 700% gain in 2023 versus a 30% loss in 2025. She also examined the definition of a trend using squishy toys and discussed market topics like AI and geopolitics. Bar-On also addressed the gender imbalance at the event, calling for realistic improvements.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Globes Publisher Alona Bar-On highlighted investment timing using Luv Luv's 700% gain in 2023 vs. 30% loss in 2025.
- Bar-On questioned the definition of a trend, using squishy toys as an example of enduring popularity.
- The conference addressed capital markets, AI trends, and geopolitical impacts on investments.
- Bar-On acknowledged an imbalance in female representation at the conference.
- The event was co-hosted by Globes and Altshuler Finance.
Alona Bar-On, publisher of the Israeli business newspaper Globes, opened the "Looking Beyond the Trend" conference on Sunday, emphasizing the critical role of timing in investments, even for popular products and sectors. She illustrated the difference between early and late entry into an investment using the example of the "Luv Luv" toy, which is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Bar-On stated that investors who bought Luv Luv in 2023 saw a 700% return, while those who invested in 2025 experienced a 30% loss, highlighting that "it's all a question of timing, and there's nothing new in that."
Bar-On also discussed the nature of trends, using squishy toys as an example. She noted that squishies have been around since the 2000s and have reappeared in waves, gaining renewed popularity in recent years due to platforms like TikTok and ASMR culture. She questioned whether something existing since the early 2000s could truly be considered a trend, citing a Massachusetts-based squishy brand that has sold 100 million units since 2017 and achieved double-digit growth in the past two years.
The conference also touched upon capital markets, interest rates, debt, the geopolitical impact on investments, and whether artificial intelligence developments represent a trend or a bubble. Bar-On also commented on the gender balance at the conference, acknowledging that the representation of women was not ideal and that efforts to improve it should not come at the expense of distorting reality or excluding relevant individuals.
She thanked the conference partners for their support in promoting fact-based journalism and concluded by wishing attendees a productive conference and a bull market, urging them to identify investment opportunities in 2023 rather than 2025, unlike the Luv Luv example.