⚔️ Epic Games vs Google

Fortnite developer Epic Games beat Google in court | US inflation comes in mild | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH   Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for December 13th in 3:07 minutes.   🤖 It's only a matter of time before artificial intelligence changes the way we invest. Join InvestAlert's CEO for [The AI Advantage: Enhancing Portfolio Protection Strategies]( on December 14th, and make sure your portfolio isn't left behind. [Grab your free ticket]( Today's big stories - Epic Games, the developer of viral game Fortnite, took on Google’s app store and won - This could be a good time to pick up some UK shares on the cheap – [Read Now]( - US inflation held steady in November, suggesting that the country's central bank might too Victory Royale [Victory Royale] What’s going on here? In signature style, Epic Games danced out of the courtroom on [Monday]( after the jury ruled against Google. What does this mean? Fortnite-maker Epic Games has been embroiled in a court battle with major app stores for years. Epic’s case argued that a 15 to 30% cut on in-app purchases was nothing short of extortion – but Google maintained that was only fair play. After all, the tech titan’s Play Store brings billions of shoppers within a click of Epic’s games for a limited cost, it says, so it deserves a chunk of change every time gamers upgrade their digital worlds. Not according to the jury on duty, though, which cast doubt on Google’s claims of altruism and sided with Epic. Why should I care? Zooming out: Not so epic. Epic Games took on Apple back in 2020, but that one didn’t turn out so well for the gutsy developer. Apple won, and Epic’s still waiting for its Supreme Court appeal to come to fruition. So on one hand, the ruling against the Play Store – and any restrictions that follow – could give Apple’s App Store an advantage. But on the other, the verdict might force the Supreme Court to reassess the previous judgment, forcing Apple to suffer the same fate as rival Google. The bigger picture: Welcome to the world of retail. It’s human nature to pull for the underdogs. But while Epic’s a small fry next to Apple and Google, $6 billion in revenue is hardly puny. Mix in the company’s viral dance crazes that haunt parents around the world, and sympathy for the game developer will have its bounds. What’s more, at the end of the day, all retailers – from Walmart to GameStop – take a cut as thanks for uniting brands and shoppers. And in that sense, app stores are no different. You might also like: [Nvidia blew the doors off 2023. Here’s what next year might be like](. 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=Victory Royale&utm_campaign=daily-global-13-12-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take The UK’s Stocks Are Almost Embarrassingly Cheap [The UK’s Stocks Are Almost Embarrassingly Cheap]( By Russell Burns, Analyst The UK’s stocks are at, well, almost [embarrassingly]( low levels. And it’s not entirely their fault: a whole lot of ultra-hot inflation, a run of aggressive interest rate hikes, worries about economic growth, and some heavy investor outflows have all [taken a toll]( on valuations. But there are hopes now for a turnaround. So it’s worth taking [a closer look]( now to see what Britain’s stock market has to offer. That’s today’s Insight: [why this might be a good time to invest in the UK](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY IG Find out if gold can keep up its winning streak [Gold prices]( have held strong this year, even bringing home a brief all-time high. That makes sense: the last twelve months have been turbulent, to say the least, and investors tend to flock to so-called [safe-haven assets during uncertain times](. But central banks have been buying more than usual, too. In fact, data from the World Gold Council revealed [central banks bought 14% more gold than the year before](. So gold’s price going forward may well hinge on central banks’ policies. But that’s not easy to predict: decisions will be made based on global tension, inflation, and economic strength. IG has done the heavy lifting, though, and [forecast where gold will head in 2024](. 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. Land Ahoy [Land Ahoy] What’s going on here US [prices]( cooled ever so slightly from the month before, hinting that the Federal Reserve (the Fed) may be able to stay the course, at least for now. What does this mean? US prices rose a year-over-year 3.1% in November, just a tad milder than October’s 3.2%. But shoppers probably felt pretty jolly about that as they hit the Black Friday sales. After all, October's figure is far lower than the 9.1% inflation the economy recorded in June of last year, even if it is still hotter than the Fed would like it. Why should I care? For markets: Sea legs. What’s a pirate’s favorite letter? You’d think it be arrr, but it be the ‘C’. Anyway, captain of the Fed, Jerome Powell, is probably not in the mood for jokes. That’s because he’s knotted the central bank's future interest rate moves to economic data, which do have a tendency to blow in different directions from one month to the next. So far the Fed’s been steady at the helm, and has steered the economic ship through some high seas. But docking this vessel will take considerable skill. The bigger picture: Oil aboard. Scan the items that make up the consumer price index, and two big numbers will jump out at you: gasoline was down 6% last month and fuel oils were down 3%. By and large, economists focus on the core inflation metric, which excludes more volatile components like food and energy. But think back to the start of this whole inflation drama: it began with a spike in energy prices that eventually led to the cost of all other goods going up. After all, commodities are in just about everything, from clothing to paints. So, it’s probably reasonable to assume that as those commodity prices ebb, they should pull down the prices of everything else. You might also like: [This is a risky time for stocks](. 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=Land Ahoy&utm_campaign=daily-global-13-12-2023&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day "There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know." – Harry S. Truman (the 33rd president of the United States) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY AJ BELL MONEY MATTERS The UK has a serious issue The UK gender investment gap is £1.65 trillion. Yup, trillion. That means on average women end up with smaller savings, pensions, and investments than men – and no excuses: a major reason is because they’re held back and paid less. AJ Bell is on a mission to change that. [The Money Matters campaign]( offers a range of educational material including free events, podcasts, and articles focused on female finance. And crucially, AJ Bell researched the major issues that are keeping women from building their own wealth fairly. After all, it’s hard to solve problems if you don’t know where the problems are. Let’s educate ourselves and right the wrong: [dig in with the free report today](. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Reach the right audience at the right time Our [one-million-strong community of modern investors]( is clever, clued-in, and keen to learn. In other words, they’re exactly the type of folk your businesses want to reach. So whether you're an established brand, scaleup, or startup, [our promotional campaigns]( can help you [introduce yourself to your future community](. [Let's Chat]( 🎯 On Our Radar 1. So long, 9 to 5. Retiring early might actually be [all its cracked up to be](. 2. The metaverse could change everything. Prepare yourself for a [new investing landscape.](* 3. Glug, glug, glögg. [Mulled wine]( is back and better than ever. 4. AI isn't new. Here's [what investors need to know]( about its evolution – and its future.** 5. When influencers meet abstract art. [Experience Art Basel]( without having to set foot there. Your capital is at risk. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.** When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🤩 Coming Up Soon... All events in UK time. 🤖 [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? 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