😎 China’s still got it

China gained momentum | Inditex upset investors | [TOGETHER WITH]( Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for March 16th in 3:11 minutes. 🥛 The UK tax year is about to end, but you can milk some more money out of it if you act quick. So join Bestinvest’s Alice Haine for [A Guide To Maximising Your Tax Allowance]( on April 3rd, and find out how you can make the most of your tax-free ISA allowance before the deadline hits. [Get your free ticket]( Today's big stories - China’s vital signs have started to improve - How to find a good industry to invest in – [Read Now]( - Inditex’s spending plans struck investors as the emperor’s new clothes Alive And Kicking [Alive And Kicking] What’s Going On Here? Data out on Wednesday [showed]( that China’s economy is pulsing with strong signs of life. What Does This Mean? China's recent car sales didn't quite [live]( up to folks’ visions of a super-powered post-COVID boom – but the country’s receiving some good news at last. Data out on Wednesday showed the economy’s started to thaw, with retail sales up 3.5% in the first two months of the year compared to the same time last year. That’s a welcome return to growth after months of decline, and it’s not the only boon China’s seeing: industrial output also sped up, and the value of new apartment sales is ticking up too. And get this: half of this data deals with January, when a new wave of Covid infections swept China – so it probably doesn’t reflect the true strength of the economy. Why Should I Care? Zooming in: Splash the cash. Analysts expect this momentum to continue, but the country still needs to overcome some pitfalls. Take unemployment: the government thought the reopening would lead to a pickup in hiring – but with joblessness on the rise, that’s clearly not what’s happening. And that means China’s probably going to need to inject some cash into the system in order to hit growth targets. In fact, it’s already made a start: the central bank poured more money into the financial system on Wednesday than it has at any time since 2020. The bigger picture: Visit China. China's growth goals may not be ambitious, but hitting them will still turn up the dial of global demand – and with the recession-threatened West not pulling its economic weight, that would be a real relief. One area that stands to benefit a lot is tourism in Southeast Asia, as Chinese jet-setters fare forth once again. And as of this week, it’s a two-way street: after three years of national navel-gazing, China’s [reopening]( its borders to foreign tourists. You might also like: [Five spicy stocks for China’s reopening.]( 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=Alive And Kicking&utm_campaign=daily-global-16-03-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take Finding A Stock Is Good, But Finding A Whole Industry Is Golden [Finding A Stock Is Good, But Finding A Whole Industry Is Golden]( By Theodora Lee Joseph, Analyst Spotting good companies is great, but [spotting good industries]( is even better. After all, if an industry [is growing](, most companies operating there stand to benefit. As they say, [a rising tide lifts all boats]( – yes, even the bad ones. Since I rarely have time to find good companies, I keep [an eye out for good industries]( instead. You can do that too. That’s today’s Insight: [how to find a good industry to invest in.]( [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY IG The tech world has a new child prodigy Three popular kids had everyone talking last year: web3, crypto, and the metaverse. But it seems this is the year of geek chic. [Artificial intelligence (AI)]( has swaggered onto the scene, and its [street smarts]( have caught just about every investor’s attention. This won’t just be fifteen minutes of fame, either. [Plenty of industries]( are already joined at the hip with AI, from [entertainment to manufacturing to healthcare](. Heck, even [art and sport](. But with [a million ways to play the AI theme](, it’s essentially impossible to handpick [the brightest sparks](. Mind you, maybe you won’t need to: IG has published [a free list of AI exchange-traded funds](, so you can spread your exposure with [a bundle of super-smart stocks](. [Check It Out]( Your capital is at risk. The value of shares, ETFs, and ETCs can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Clothes But No Cigar [Clothes But No Cigar] What’s Going On Here? Investors weren’t keen to reward Inditex for the new investment plans it [announced]( on Wednesday. What Does This Mean? Inditex has been weeding out its weakest stores in recent years, and boy, has that paid off. The store network was super-efficient last year, helping profit jump by 27% from 2021, as sales shot past pre-pandemic levels. That meant Inditex’s pivot from streamlining to spending was pretty unexpected, though, with plans to expand its fleet of stores catching investors off guard. And while the almost $2 billion Inditex is setting aside for the project won’t crater its $10 billion cash reserves, shareholders might have been hoping more money would come their way. After catching wind of a mere 29% dividend bump, even the popularity of Inditex’s current spring-summer collections couldn't please them, and shares took a tumble. Why Should I Care? The bigger picture: American dream. Investors might be giving the company a hard time, but it’s not doing too badly – especially in light of rival H&M’s recent crummy results. That’s partly down to Inditex’s wealthier customers, who can bear price hikes better than some – but the firm’s vision is an asset too. This store expansion plan, which could take Inditex to a whole new level, is a case in point. Imagine the inroads Inditex could make in the US, where the company has fewer than 100 stores and a market share of just 0.5%. Zooming out: Jean Genie. Spare a thought for the environment as you refresh your wardrobe this spring: after all, making one pair of jeans can take as much water as the average person drinks in 10 whole years. Luckily, though, Inditex and H&M are both taking steps to reduce waste – and make some extra money too. Part of Inditex’s investment plan involves expanding a platform for secondhand clothes in Europe, and H&M [launched]( its own resale platform in the US this week. You might also like: [Fast fashion is out. Pre-owned fashion is in.]( 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=Clothes But No Cigar&utm_campaign=daily-global-16-03-2023&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day “Middle age is when you’ve met so many people that every new person you meet reminds you of someone else.” – Ogden Nash (an American poet) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY REAL VISION The investing course that’s got everyone talking The [journey to financial freedom]( can be full of pitfalls, challenges, and misinformation. You have to [learn from the world’s best investors]( without blindly copying them, and apply textbook knowledge to the less predictable real world – all while sidestepping the charlatans. But it’s a heck of a lot easier to find your way if you have [a complete and clear guide]( at hand. Well, join [The Real Investing Course by Real Vision](, and you’ll [unlock thousands of hours’ worth of research in just ten hours](. It’s essentially your Google Maps for the investing world. It’s really got folks talking: one customer said they received “exactly the kind of high-quality, grounded, and honest market education that brought them to Real Vision in the first place.” And as a loyal Finimize reader, you can [get 40% off The Real Investing Course through this link](. [Find Out More]( 🌍 Finimize Live 🥳 Coming Up In The Next Week… All events in UK time. 📈 [Five Shares For ISAs – How HL Researches](: 5pm, March 20th 🌎 [Three Ways Long-Term Investors Can Act On Climate Change](: 12pm, March 21st 🚀 [What Will Be The Next Big Thing In Artificial Intelligence?](: 1pm, March 22nd 👀 And After That… 📚 [A Guide To Maximizing Your Tax Allowance](: 5pm, April 3rd 🔮 [Future of Finance: Waking Up To The Retail Investor]( (London): 6.30pm, April 12th 🙋‍♀️ [Women And Investing: Powering Up Your Pension](: 5pm, April 25th 💥 [Investing 101: The DIY Investor](: 1pm, April 27th 🎉 [Modern Investor Summit 2023](: 12pm, December 5th and 6th 🎯 On Our Radar - The naked truth. Working in a [nudist spa]( comes with some pretty unique highs and lows. - “Dancing hot sauce”. This couple tied the knot [in the Taco Bell metaverse](. - The woman who does not exist. Here’s how a fake scandal brought down one [made-up writer](. - Biting the bullet journal. Find out whether a no-frills diary could [turn your life around](. - Don’t just commiserate. Here’s how you can [genuinely help]( a friend who’s been laid off. ❤️ 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. Share your unique link: [ You stay classy, {NAME} 😉 We’d love to hear your thoughts. [Give feedback]( Want to advertise with us too? [Get in touch]( Image Credits: Image credits: 80's Child - Shutterstock | GO DESIGN - Shutterstock Preferences: [Update your email]( or [change preferences]( [View in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( from all Finimize Emails 😴 Crafted by Finimize Ltd. | 280 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AG All content provided by Finimize Ltd. is for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to represent trade or investment recommendations. You signed up to this mailing list at finimize.com or through one of our partners. © Finimize 2021 [View Online](