🍎 Apple’s looking ripe

Apple's still juicy | China's thirst for oil kept growing | [TOGETHER WITH]( Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for May 5th in 3:14 minutes. 👂 When the world gets this unpredictable, wise investors listen to the folk who know a thing or two about disruption. So catch Anastasia Amoroso on the latest [Finimize Podcast](, and glean some wisdom from an expert on emerging technologies and disruptive trends. [Listen in here]( Today's big stories - Apple cruised ahead on the strength of its flagship smartphone - Here’s a list of ii customers’ most-bought investments this April – [Read Now]( - China’s swallowing oceans of oil – and it’s still thirsty The Fruit Of Apple’s Labor [The Fruit Of Apple’s Labor] What’s going on here? Apple’s toiling and tinkering led to expectation-beating [results]( last quarter. What does this mean? Apple’s iPhone sales, the company’s pride and joy, staged a remarkable comeback last quarter, outshining a shrinking smartphone market and growing revenue compared to the same quarter last year. That rebound balanced out less-than-stellar sales of Macs and iPads – and while the ever-lucrative services segment (including Apple TV, Music, and iCloud) may not have exceeded expectations, it still managed to chalk up sales growth of 5%. All in all, Apple put in a solid performance, with folks using more of its products than ever before. And with a $90 billion share buyback program thrown into the mix, it’s no surprise relieved investors initially sent the stock up. Why should I care? The bigger picture: The Apple of my AI. It’s AI-mania in the tech world these days, with heavyweights like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon going all-in on uber-trendy artificial intelligence. And while Apple – the biggest of them all – seems to be playing it cool, it’s actually weaving a little AI magic into its own offerings, spicing up user experience and rejigging product use cases. There’s also plenty of AI under the hood of Apple’s self-driving car project – and the tech world’s abuzz with [reports]( it’s working on an AI-powered health coach too. For markets: Big Apple. This has been a strong earnings season for Big Tech, with all the usual suspects smashing through analysts’ expectations. And with their cash-rich balance sheets also luring investors in a so-called “flight to safety”, last week Apple and Microsoft [made up]( a bigger proportion of the S&P 500 than ever before. In fact, around half of the total gains clocked up by S&P 500 this year have been down to the two giants. And while that’s impressive, it’s risky too: any tumble in those titans’ values could rock the index to its core. You might also like: [Here’s what investors are getting wrong about tech stocks.]( Copy to share story: [/the-fruit-of-apples-labor]( 🙋 [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=The Fruit Of Apple’s Labor&utm_campaign=daily-global-05-05-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take Most-Bought Investments: April 2023 [Most-Bought Investments: April 2023]( Everyone’s a bit nosey: we love to hear about others’ dating lives, salaries, and – yup – [investments](. Well you’re in luck: interactive investor (ii), the UK’s second-biggest investment platform for private investors, has just revealed [the most-bought investments on its platform]( this April. Some [old favorites]( held onto their spots on [the coveted list](, many of which could be a tidy fit for those with more [passive strategies](. But plenty of [new players climbed the ranks]( in April too, ranging from [certain bonds]( to [energy opportunities]( to [actively-managed money market funds](. So that’s today’s Insight: [ii’s most-bought investments this April](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY SWEATER The investing scene might have a new hottest accessory It’s not a silk shirt, Gucci loafers, or a super-smart watch… it could just be a humble Sweater. But this one’s a bit special: see, you can [invest in some of the world’s most exciting startups]( – an opportunity often ringfenced for the uber-wealthy – with [Sweater’s venture capital fund](. The fund could give you the chance to pick up potentially [industry-shaking startups at much lower prices](, meaning you can invest like the best of ‘em without bankrupting yourself. And since [Sweater’s expert venture capital team]( manages the fund, you can sit back and relax. But if you do fancy checking in, you can access your account straight from your smartphone. So if you’re ready for a style change, you can [check out Sweater’s fund](. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund and can be obtained by calling 1-888-577-7987 or by visiting the Fund's website at [(. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. All investments involve risks, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Oil Aboard [Oil Aboard] What’s going on here? China's energy appetite is far from being sated, with data out this week [showing]( the country’s using boatloads of oil. What does this mean? A nation guzzling down energy is a telltale sign of economic growth, and China’s latest data is nothing short of a blockbuster. At the end of last month, 125 supertankers were cruising their way to the world’s biggest oil importer – the most in over two years, according to Bloomberg. And if you think that’s impressive, buckle up: cargo data suggests that China hasn’t yet slaked its thirst. But don’t imagine that it’s “all work and no play” in the Middle Kingdom. With Covid restrictions happily scrapped, China’s citizens [embarked]( on a whopping 274 million domestic trips over the May Day break – a 20% increase from pre-pandemic levels. And because Mom and Pops always need a fridge-magnet souvenir, that helped push tourism spending back to 2019 levels too. Why should I care? The bigger picture: Beijing wasn’t built in a day. Souvenirs aside, China’s economic comeback does seem a little uneven, with manufacturing activity recently shrinking for the first time in months. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves: the trajectory China’s charting is pretty similar to other nations’ post-lockdown recoveries, with services in demand and goods out of favor. Plus, the global economy’s in a bad way right now – so there’s little sense (and less money) in manufacturing products no one’s ordering. Goldman Sachs, at any rate, isn’t worried, betting that the dragon economy still has plenty of fire in its belly. For markets: Fuel for thought. Oil has taken a hit from that slowdown in manufacturing and the flagging US economy – meaning this week’s 8% [slide]( in oil prices isn’t out of left field. But some hopeful analysts think the tides will turn before long, thanks to OPEC’s lowered oil production and an anticipated jump in demand in the second half of this year. You might also like: [Even without all the reopening hype, China still looks promising.]( Copy to share story: [/oil-aboard]( 🙋 [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=Oil Aboard&utm_campaign=daily-global-05-05-2023&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day "Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an advertising agency." – Raymond Chandler (an American novelist) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY HARGREAVES LANSDOWN Discover three shares that Hargreaves Lansdown thinks people could consider The end of the tax year’s been on everyone’s minds, and [Hargreaves Lansdown]( knows it. That’s why [HL]( let us borrow its best and brightest for [our recent webinar](, which focused on the process of [spotting and vetting promising investments for ISA accounts](. Here’s a reminder of what you learned: never ignore [balance sheets](, [debt]( (not recessions) kills companies, [essential service firms]( make more reliable revenue, and the [cloud sector]( is great. You’ve already got a lot of pointers there, but Hargreaves went even more specific and identified [three promising companies]( by name – [an industry giant](, [a tech specialist](, and [a luxury name](. To find out which companies Hargreaves [thinks you could consider](, and how it found them, [you can watch the webinar here](. Important Information This isn’t personalised advice. Over time investments will rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than what you put in. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you, please ask for advice. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🎯 On Our Radar Rhythm and melody. New research suggests that your mother tongue can influence your [musical ability](. Alternative investments are big business. Listen into [ten-minute pitches from five alternative startups](.* Ghosting for good. Maybe a [silent goodbye]( is better than a wounding, wordy letdown. Right or wrong. There’s a troubling [evolutionary reason]( that most of us aren’t left-handed. Online – and faring fine. The time you waste on the internet might help you [fend off dementia](. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🥳 Coming Up Soon... All events in UK time. ⚡️ [The Great Energy Transition](: 5pm, May 16th 🏡 [Is It A Good Time To Invest In Real Estate?]( 5pm, May 17th 🏠[Alternative Ways To Invest In Real Estate](: 1pm, May 18th 👀 And After That... ✅ [Three Industries That Thrive In A Downturn](: 5pm, May 23rd 🚀 [A Beginners Guide To Prop Trading](: 5pm, May 25th 🎉 [Modern Investor Summit 2023](: 12pm, December 5th and 6th ❤️ Share with a friend Thanks for reading {NAME}. 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