🇯🇵 Japan goes quiet...

Bank of America’s top trades | Bank of Japan’s quiet rate decision | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH   Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for December 20th in 3:16 minutes.   ☕️ Finimized over an oat flat white at [The Coffee Collective]( in Copenhagen, Denmark (8°C/47°F ⛅️) Today's big stories - Apple said it’ll pause sales of some of its smartwatches ahead of Christmas, because of a patent dispute - Bank of America’s got a rosy outlook and three big trade ideas for 2024 – [Read Now]( - The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged and offered few hints about what’s next A Patent Dispute Has Apple Pulling Some Of Its Watches Off Shelves [A Patent Dispute Has Apple Pulling Some Of Its Watches Off Shelves] What’s going on here? Apple will begin [pulling]( its latest smartwatches off the shelves in the US this week, because of a patent dispute, potentially foiling the plans of last-minute holiday shoppers. What does this mean? US regulators called time out on Apple back in October, saying it’d violated the rights of a company called Masimo with tech that measures watch wearer's blood oxygen levels. The decision meant its top-end Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches could be banned starting on December 25th. Apple says its festive-season sales will still be strong. If the ruling sticks, the real sales blow would hit in January and February – two of America’s slowest retail months. Why should I care? For markets: Timing is everything. The controversy couldn’t have come at a worse moment for Apple: the firm’s already dealing with widening iPhone bans across China. So it won’t be happy about pausing sales of its Apple Watch – a serious moneymaker, fetching about a fifth of its earnings. And since the issue is with hardware patents, Apple can’t just shuffle it away with a quick software update like it’s done before. So it’s got to hope for a White House intervention, a successful appeal, or a deal with Masimo. Short of that, the company will have to redesign the devices to sidestep the protected tech – and there’s no telling how long that could take. The bigger picture: Watch this space. Apple is worth as much as the entire French stock market, or the total economy of Australia. But it didn’t come by that heft simply by selling sleek gadgets: the firm’s been steadily encroaching into other industries, competing with streaming companies, payment providers, and – yes – medical device makers. It’s also got its sights set on autos. And it’s not alone in looking far afield: as tech giants sprawl across sectors, regulators may be asked to intervene more often. Apple’s flexing some muscle, and the rules might just have to catch up. You might also like: [The three ways Apple could stay relevant.]( 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=A Patent Dispute Has Apple Pulling Some Of Its Watches Off Shelves&utm_campaign=daily-global-20-12-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take Bank Of America’s Top Three Trades For 2024 [Bank Of America’s Top Three Trades For 2024]( [Photo of Stéphane Renevier, CFA] Stéphane Renevier, CFA, Analyst [Bank of America’s 2024 outlook]( has a “New year. New trades” kind of feel to it. It’s optimism – [with a plan](. See, the bank is predicting that [the global economy]( will shake off much of the gloom and uncertainty from the past two years, and avoid the recession we’ve all been dreading. And with that on the horizon, Bank of America has identified [three top trade ideas]( that could beat the S&P 500 next year. That’s today’s Insight: [Bank of America’s top trading ideas for next year](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY AJ BELL MONEY MATTERS The world of finance isn’t just for men Let’s be real: when you think of finance, you probably think of men in fancy suits. And sure, there are finance professionals out there who fit that description. But it’s not the whole picture… Stereotypes play into real-world finances, and they affect women in particular. According to [AJ Bell’s]( latest report, for instance, [60% of women in the UK have never asked for a pay rise](. These things add up to a [big gender disparity](, where women have – on average – less money in their savings and investments than men do. And while there’s no easy fix, AJ Bell’s report is a good starting point to address the most prevalent issues. It’s full of practical tips, and it’s totally free: [get the report today](. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. The Bank Of Japan Held Interest Rates Steady (And Said Very Little Else) [The Bank Of Japan Held Interest Rates Steady (And Said Very Little Else)] What’s going on here? The Bank of Japan (BoJ) [held]( the country’s negative interest rates steady again on Tuesday, saying it’s in no rush to shift gears. What does this mean? The BoJ’s been chilling in the sub-zero zone, even as its peers have gone hiking. That’s because Japan’s been actively working to nudge prices higher, after two decades of growth-crushing deflation. So it might not have come as a huge surprise that the Bank maintained its -0.1% status quo and its title as the only major economy with a negative lending rate. But it did stoke some disappointment. Inflation in the country has been stuck above the BoJ’s 2% target since April of 2022, and investors were hoping the central bank would finally offer some insight about when it might start raising interest rates to cool those price rises. But it did none of that. Why should I care? For markets: Silent type. With little to go on, aside from the BoJ’s ambiguity, investors assumed that hikes are still in no way imminent. That rattled through markets on Tuesday, sending Japanese bond yields and the country’s yen lower. After all, the prospect of lower-for-longer interest rates makes the currency less attractive to international investors and savers. Japan’s stocks, on the other hand, got a boost from the news, since cheap borrowing costs and a weak yen are good for big Japanese companies that sell their goods overseas. The bigger picture: Easy does it. The Bank’s decision not to say much this week may well be a deliberate one, considering its policymakers are facing a difficult balancing act. Abandon the negative interest now, when other major central banks are lowering their rates, and they could trigger a flood of investment into Japan, strengthening the yen. That, in turn, would slash the costs of imports into the country, potentially revitalizing that old deflation foe and undermining decades of BoJ effort. You might also like: [Say goodbye to yen-based “carry” trades.]( 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 Bank Of Japan Held Interest Rates Steady (And Said Very Little Else)&utm_campaign=daily-global-20-12-2023&utm_source=email) 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]( 💬 Quote of the day "If you don't like something, change it. 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As of mid-December, [60% of Prospero’s picks]( had outperformed their respective S&P benchmarks for the year for an annualized SPY beat of 43% on 151 newsletter picks.* Plus, an academic study just showed that students who used the Prospero app ([iOS](, [Android]() gained advantages across a wide spectrum of investment measures.* Prospero’s “Model Portfolio” starred in a different way, [boasting results 28% above the S&P 500 on 521 investments since inception 6/4/23.](* This higher frequency trading strategy focuses more on their pure signals so there are options for different strategies: check them out with [Prospero.Ai](. [Find Out More]( *Data analysis and methodology not yet final. Past performance isn't indicative of future results, please contact your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🎯 On Our Radar 1. Your disposable BBQ isn't cutting it. [Korean barbecue](, but not as you know it. 2. Crisp basics never go out of style. Give your investment strategy [a refresher](.** 3. Hugh Grant has range. Revisit [the British icon's career]( from most to least unhinged. 4. Bitcoin’s big news. You can trade the most popular cryptocurrencies without fronting big prices with [these micro-sized tools](.* 5. Animals help us in many ways. Here's whether [a cartoon giraffe]( has kept New Zealanders away from the hard stuff. **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. SPONSORED BY HEALTHWORDS.AI [HEALTHWORDS.AI]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🤩 Coming Up Soon... All events in UK time. 💸 [Your 2024 Crypto Investing Roadmap](: 5pm, January 16th ❤️ Share with a friend Thanks for reading {NAME}. 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