🦘 Australia has energy

US job data muddied the inflation waters | Australian energy companies discussed a multi-billion-dollar merger | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH   Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for December 9th in 3:15 minutes.   💸 You loved Stashaway's risk management session at our Modern Investor Summit, not least because of the team's expert market knowledge. So here's your chance to apply that to your portfolio: [sign up with this invite](, and Stashway will manage your cash for free for six months. Today's big stories - The latest US jobs data had something for everyone, from optimists to recession mongers - Here’s what’s in store next year for Nvidia, the runaway star of 2023 – [Read Now]( - Australian energy heavyweights Woodside and Santos discussed the possibility of forming a $52 billion gas giant The American Way [The American Way] What’s going on here? The US job market stuck to its traditional, hardy stance on unemployment, according to data out on [Friday](. What does this mean? Jobs data might not sound like a blast, but the figures often influence monetary policy and, in turn, the stock market. In other words, they're attention grabbers. This time around, the US filled more jobs than expected in November but managed to keep average wages just 4% higher than the same time last year. That’s important: increasing wages pull inflation up with them, so a mild reading could encourage the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to let up on interest rate hikes. Or it would, if unemployment figures hadn’t dampened the mood. A shrinking number of jobseekers between October and November means wages could still move up in the coming months, as companies compete to nab the best talent for a price. Why should I care? For markets: Japan and the US are oceans apart. Tokyo’s a long way west of Washington, both physically and metaphorically. See, while the Fed seems to be preparing to cut rates next year, the Bank of Japan is only just considering raising them for the first time since before the 2008 financial crisis. The potential of higher rates has pulled the yen up a notch, saving it from the nearly 30-year low it sunk to against the dollar earlier this year. The bigger picture: The gloves are off. Wall Street has a saying: “You don’t fight the Fed”. And throughout the low-interest-rate years, that meant trusting in stocks above all else. But now that rates have been hiked high, investors would be expected to do the opposite. Nope: they’ve been ignoring that adage and piling into US stocks. That’s mainly because they doubt the Fed’s assertion that it’s ready to hike again. But if they’re wrong to ignore the central bank’s word, investors’ portfolios might be hit with a right hook. You might also like: [Everybody’s still too optimistic about interest rate cuts, says the OECD](. 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=The American Way&utm_campaign=daily-global-09-12-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take Nvidia Blew The Doors Off 2023. Here’s What Next Year Might Be Like. [Nvidia Blew The Doors Off 2023. Here’s What Next Year Might Be Like.]( By Paul Allison, CFA, Analyst Let’s not beat around the bush: [your favorite stock]( – Nvidia – smashed it this year. AI blasted onto the scene and turned this quiet little company with its AI-powering chips into a [must-own stock]( for investors everywhere. Now, with Nvidia’s shares up 220% this year, the question everyone wants to know is whether [next year]( can be anywhere near as good. That’s today’s Insight: [the 2024 outlook for Nvidia, this year’s runaway star](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY IG IG has eyes on semiconductors [AI]( is big. Like, really big. And we’re not talking about its ability to discover immortality, aliens, or the end of all humans. No, we’re just talking about the number of related investments you have to choose from. See, AI has the potential to impact pretty much every sector out there. So if you want to [cash in from its advancement](, you could cast a wide net. But [one sector that is instrumental to AI’s success]( is – drum roll, please – [semiconductors](, the little chips that make anything tech-related possible. IG has laid out some key industry facts you should be aware of, as well as [the five semiconductor stocks it thinks are worth watching next year](. DisclaimerYour capital is at risk. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Raise Your Gas [Raise Your Gas] What’s going on here? Woodside Energy and Santos, two of Australia’s biggest oil and gas companies, started talks that could see them celebrating a $52 billion [merger](. What does this mean? Woodside and Santos aren’t small fry by any means. In fact, together they control most of Australia’s natural gas industry. But the sector’s only getting more competitive, plus the cost of taking on new projects is creeping higher. So by joining forces, the duo could combine their cash, spread out their risk, and work on troubleshooting their less successful projects. But they won’t be taking over the world anytime soon: Woodside and Santos combined would still be selling roughly three times less liquified natural gas than big shots like Shell. Why should I care? For markets: Yoga isn’t the only way to stay flexible. Russia’s war in Ukraine shuttered essential gas pipelines and forced Europe to compete with Asia for new suppliers. That sounds sweet for gas providers, but with so many potential markets at their hands, firms need a champion statistician to decide which cargo to send where to bring in the highest possible profit. Or failing that, they can merge with other companies to widen their portfolios, letting them move their supplies around without ditching customers. Zooming out: The benefits of group mentality. Mergers are run of the mill in the energy sector. US titan ExxonMobil recently spent $64 billion on Pioneer, for example, and Chevron bought Hess for roughly $60 billion a couple of months ago. See, while tight supply has buoyed natural gas prices this year, expected floods of gas from Qatar and North America should limit the energy’s profit margins from 2025. What’s more, the International Energy Agency thinks overall demand for coal, oil, and natural gas will peak before the end of the decade. No wonder firms are finding safety in numbers: it helps to be a big fish in a small pond, especially when the pond’s shrinking. You might also like: [Nuclear energy could light up your portfolio](. 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=Raise Your Gas&utm_campaign=daily-global-09-12-2023&utm_source=email) SPONSORED BY CHAIKIN ANALYTICS Stocks to buy and avoid in 2024 Bonds are back. Stocks are fluctuating. Murmurs of a housing crash are spreading. In other words, it’s a confusing time to be an investor – and 2024 will likely be the same. So if you’re on the pulse, you’ll be looking for fresh ways to protect your returns in the coming months. Stansberry Research has compiled [a list of opportunities that could thrive next year](, guarding your portfolio against volatility and bolstering your returns. But the report doesn’t just detail Stansberry’s top-ranked stocks, it also runs through the [seven stocks that investors should steer well clear of](, according to the company’s analysts. [Claim your free report – The Top Five Stocks to Buy for 2024 – today](, and you’ll get free access to Stanberry Research’s flagship e-letter, [The Stansberry Digest](.  [Find Out More]( Disclaimer This ad is sent on behalf of Chaikin Analytics, 201 King Of Prussia Rd., Suite 650, Radnor, PA 19087. [Privacy Policy](. [Unsubscribe]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 💬 Quote of the day "If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere." – Marilyn Monroe (an American actress and model) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY EUREKA LITHIUM Fuel the electric future The clean energy transition is well underway, especially in the [electric vehicle industry](. That’s just what the planet needs. What we can’t afford, though, is to run out of [lithium]( – a key electric battery ingredient – just when we’ve started to turn our backs on fossil fuels. [Eureka Lithium (OTC:UREKF)]( is on a mission to stop that from happening: the company is on the hunt for undiscovered, [top-quality lithium districts in Nunavik](, an under-explored region in Quebec. Lithium should be in demand for decades to come. Plus, with international trade looking less reliable by the day, [securing supply within the US and Canada]( is more important than ever. So if you [want a foot in the electric future](, this could be the opportunity for you. Eureka, indeed. [Find Out More]( This content is for US investors only, if you are not a US investor please ignore this content. This content is a paid advertisement for Eureka Lithium from Sideways Frequency and Finimize. This is not Finimize editorial content. Finimize received a fixed fee for producing, hosting and promoting this content on behalf of Eureka Lithium, totaling $16,000. Other than the compensation received for this service, Finimize and its principals are not affiliated with either Sideways Frequency or Eureka Lithium. Finimize and its principals have no ownership in Eureka Lithium. The content on this page should not be taken as advice, an endorsement, or a recommendation from Finimize and its principals to buy or sell any security. Finimize and its principals have not evaluated the accuracy of any claims made on this page. Finimize and its principals recommend that investors do their own independent research and consult with a qualified investment professional before buying or selling any security. Investing is inherently risky and capital is at risk. Past performance is not indicative of future results. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🎯 On Our Radar 1. Studies show women buy more cars. Someone needs to explain why vehicles are still [built for the male gaze](. 2. Back to the futures. Get to the root of trading futures and (why you’d want to) with this [free guide](.* 3. You can't trust anyone. Life in a [YouTube prank relationship]( sounds taxing, at the very least. 4. Bitcoiners and gold bugs both believe their favorite investment towers above the rest. Here's why [mixing the two could spell good news]( for your portfolio.** 5. Grab the pearl spoon. Every restaurant has to [serve caviar]( now. Stocks is a derivative product offered by Change Securities B.V. that replicates the performance of your favourite companies’ shares - full or fractional.** When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🤩 Coming Up Soon... All events in UK time. 🗻 [Beyond the Summit: A Recap of Modern Investor Trends](: 5pm, December 12th 🤖 [The AI Advantage: Enhancing Portfolio Protection Strategies](: 5pm, December 14th ❤️ Share with a friend Thanks for reading {NAME}. If you liked today's brief, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. 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: Shutterstock – Mark Hayes | shutterstock – Rob Bayer, Marlon Trottmann 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](