🎮 China to blacklist video games

At least we still have Tetris | European oil companies not good enough for ya, huh? | [TOGETHER WITH]( Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for August 4th in 3:04 minutes. 😎 Our next [Crowdfunding Club]( on August 11th introduces two extraordinary founders from Rizome and Chisos. This is your chance to grill them and find out if their businesses could be the next big thing. [Get your free ticket here]( Today's big stories - Tencent’s stock dropped after investors worried that the Chinese government would target the media and gaming titan next - China’s turned against some of its biggest money-spinners lately, and one of its next targets could be the most drastic of all – [Read Now]( - BP announced stronger-than-expected quarterly results, and the oil giant's set a high bar for its European rivals League Of Losers [League Of Losers] What’s Going On Here? Tencent’s stock fell by the most in a decade on Tuesday, after murmurs grew that the gaming industry would be next to fall to China’s might. What Does This Mean? The Chinese government has been on the warpath in the last few months, [barreling]( its way through the country’s tech, fintech, and for-profit education industries to name a few. So when a state-owned news outlet accused kids of spending too much time playing “electronic drugs” – video games – investors were suddenly nervous that gaming would be next. That encouraged them to sell off a host of the sector’s stocks: Tencent’s shares dropped by 6% on Tuesday, NetEase’s by 10%, and Japan’s Nexon – which makes about 30% of its revenue from China – by 7%. Why Should I Care? For markets: This bruise might not heal. Tencent’s shares were down as much as 11% at one point, but China’s biggest public company did manage some damage control – namely by promising to limit the amount of time kids can spend playing its games. But Alibaba – which announced weaker-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday – is proof that this might cause lasting problems: the ecommerce giant’s shares have now fallen 25% in the last six months. Still, it’s trying to put a positive spin on the situation, committing to buying back more of its shares this year and next. For you personally: Stay safe out there. You might be skittish about investing in China right now, so it’s just as well that Goldman Sachs published new analysis on which sectors to avoid and which to invest in. The investment bank suggested steering clear of those exposed to antitrust, capital markets, social equality, and data security, and gravitating more toward consumer staples, energy and utilities, and machinery and materials. You might also like: [How to profit from China’s explosive economic growth.]( Copy to share story: [( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=League Of Losers&utm_campaign=daily-global-04-08-2021&utm_source=email) 2. Analyst Take The Shaky Legal Vehicles That Could Bring Down The Chinese Stock Market What’s Going On Here? Chinese companies across the board have had a [tough time of it]( lately. And according to [TS Lombard’s Oliver Brennan](, US-listed Chinese companies are in just as vulnerable a position. See, firms that struggle to get approval to list on the US stock market have for years used a special kind of corporate structure – known as a [“VIE”]( – to avoid asking permission. And even though it’s a workaround, the country’s largely been [on board]( with VIEs. They bring a lot of foreign money into China, after all. But if recent developments have proved anything, it’s that Chinese policymakers can change their minds in an instant. And if they do, investors might [start ditching]( the country’s stocks in their droves. So that’s today’s interview: Oliver Brennan on how VIEs work, why they’re so risky, and [where the safer opportunities lie]( if you’re interested in China. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY CROWDSTREET $21 billion and counting The real estate market is booming, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. But it’s no secret how difficult it is to tap into that market if you don’t have a platform like [CrowdStreet](. So it’s a good thing you have a platform exactly like [CrowdStreet](, which gives you unparalleled access to [institutional-quality real estate deals](. In fact, over the last seven years, CrowdStreet’s investors have funded more than [500 real estate projects]( – from grocery stores to data warehouses – across the US. That’s almost $21 billion worth. And with the pandemic-bruised world changing all around us, the real estate industry will have to change with it. And that means [even more opportunities]( for investors like you. Here’s to the next 500 deals: [find out more about CrowdStreet](. [Find Out More]( Disclaimer: This content was written by Finimize, a paid partner of CrowdStreet, Inc.(“CrowdStreet”) and has been prepared solely for informational purposes. BluePrint [BluePrint] What’s Going On Here? BP announced stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, and the British oil major laid out plans for dividends and buybacks that its rivals will be hoping to replicate. What Does This Mean? Oil prices have been on the [up and up]( this year, meaning BP was able to sell what it extracted at a higher price last quarter – and in turn take home a higher-than-expected profit. It went one step further than US oil companies too, which have mostly been raising their dividends and reintroducing share buybacks: BP promised to buy back $1 billion worth of shares every quarter and up its annual dividend by 4% a year until 2025 (as long as oil’s price averages at least $60 a barrel). And never ones to thumb their noses at both certainty and cash returns, investors sent BP’s stock up 5%. Why Should I Care? For markets: Just to manage expectations… Oil’s price is up around 40% this year, but investors looking for even more of a climb might be disappointed if JPMorgan Chase is to be believed. The firm’s private bank investment strategist thinks the price of the dusky nectar is fair in its current range of $70-75, and doesn’t reckon it’ll move much in the next year. Zooming in: Mind the gap. JPMorgan’s hot take suggests Europe’s oil stocks – up just 5% this year – are going to need to find some other way to close the gap on America’s majors, up around 35% ([tweet this](). One possibility is if Europe’s oil firms can put to bed investors’ environmental concerns, though not the ones you’d think. See, these companies have [talked a big game]( about becoming greener, but they’ll have to spend bigger if they actually want to achieve those [goals](. And that, investors worry, could come at the expense of dividends, buybacks, and clearing debt. BP seemed to soothe its investors’ jitters on Tuesday, but European rivals Total and Shell have a pretty high bar to clear. You might also like: [Why now might be the perfect time to buy into oil companies.]( Copy to share story: [( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=BluePrint&utm_campaign=daily-global-04-08-2021&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day “In politics, absurdity is not a handicap.” – Napoléon Bonaparte (a French military and political leader) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY HAVEN LIFE Peace of mind never looked so affordable No one wants to worry about the unexpected, but the unexpected can happen. And [Haven Term]( is an easy and affordable way to help look after those you love if anything unexpected happens to you. So if you’re, say, a 35-year old woman in excellent health, you could buy a $500,000 20-year policy for around [$18 a month]( with Haven Life. That’s [30% less]( than the industry average. See how affordable peace of mind can be: [get your free quote here](. [Get Your Free Quote]( Disclosures: Sponsored by Haven Life Insurance Agency. Based on U.S. monthly term life insurance averages as of July 1, 2021 for applicants in excellent health, [Policygenius Life Insurance Price index](. Estimate based on pricing for eligible Haven Term applicants in excellent health. Pricing differences will vary based on ages, health status, coverage amount and term length. These prices do not reflect the rates for applicants in CA, DE, FL, ND, NY and SD. Haven Term is a Term Life Insurance Policy (ICC21 Haven Term in certain states, including NC) issued by C.M. Life Insurance Company (C.M. Life), Enfield, CT 06082. In New York (DTC-NY), California (DTC-CA), and other states it is issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111-0001. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌎 Finimize Live 😎 Cool, calm, collectible There has to be a reason Reddit’s Alex Ohanian is jumping onto the collectibles bandwagon, and it doesn’t take much digging to find out why: the fast-growing market is worth upwards of $10 billion. So naturally, we invited Mythic Market’s Joe Mahavuthivanij to give you the lowdown on how you can buy into this seriously profitable market: join him for [Are Collectibles Worth All The Hype?]( next Monday. 💰 [How To Make Money From Money](: 3pm UK time, August 4th 🎨 [Are Collectibles Worth All The Hype?](: 6pm UK time, August 9th 🏡 [How To Buy Property Without Buying Property](: 6pm UK time, August 10th 🤖 [What’s Next For DeFi in 2021?]( 1pm UK time, August 11th 🔥 [How To Invest In The Next Big Thing](: 5pm UK time, August 11th 🤑 [How To Value Ethereum](: 5pm UK time, August 12th ✅ [How To Be Greener About Bitcoin](: 1pm UK time, August 17th 💥 [How To Profit From The Commodities Boom](: 5pm UK time, August 18th 🔌 [Strategies To Supercharge Your Investments](: 1pm UK time, August 20th 😎 [How To Invest In Smart Contracts](: 5pm UK time, August 24th 🤔 [Are You An Investor Or A Trader?](: 12pm UK time, August 25th 🙌 [How To Create A Diversified Portfolio](: 1pm UK time, August 26th 🚀 [How To Profit From Open Banking](: 5pm UK time, August 27th 💰 [How To Value Any Company](: 6pm UK time, August 31st ♻️ [How To Turn Your Portfolio Green](: 6pm UK time, September 23rd 🤠[How To Win Big With Fractional Shares](: 5pm UK time, September 28th 🎯On Our Radar - The $5,000 quest for a perfect tush. How the [Brazilian butt lift]( went mainstream. - Sheep of a feather flock together. And from above, it’s [beautiful](. - Dude, where’s my soap? Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and [peculiar bathing routines](. - It’s melting season. Greenland just lost enough ice to [cover Florida]( in water. - Behind the scenes of piloting. This is [what really goes on in cockpits](. ❤️ Share with a friend Your Referrals: 0 Thanks for reading {NAME}. If you liked today's brief, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. If they sign up on your unique link, you’ll earn some sweet swag. Share your unique link: [ You stay classy, {NAME} 😉 We’d love to hear your thoughts. [Give feedback]( Want to advertise with us too? 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