🛢 Oil could ruin everything

Americans felt more financially confident, helped by lowering mortgage rates | Attacks on ships in the Red Sea threatened goods and oil supply | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH   Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for December 22nd in 3:15 minutes.   🎄 It’s that time of the year again: board games, family arguments, and too many leftovers. We’re taking a few days off at Finimize HQ, so you’ll next hear from us on the 28th. Happy holidays! Soak up the candied yams for us. Today's big stories - The US housing market looked less shaky, as Americans became more financially confident after a rough year - Why 2024 could be a good year for UK stocks – [Read Now]( - Yemen’s Houthi movement intensified its attacks on ships in the Red Sea, sparking fears for the supply of oil and goods Heart Rates [Heart Rates] What’s going on here? Reports out this week [showed]( signs of US housing activity coming back to life. What does this mean? Sky-high mortgage rates have been putting Americans off the housing market, forcing them to forgo the dream of a yard and swing set for a little longer. But with the Federal Reserve hinting at potential rate cuts next year, investors have been buying up Treasuries to lock in the benefits of higher rates before they go. That’s been lowering their yields, and because mortgage rates tend to mirror the bond market, it makes sense that mortgage rates just hit their lowest since June after a five-week slide. So now, Americans have been lining up outside open houses again. Plus, housing construction is up, sales of pre-owned homes have picked up from a 13-year low, and builders are feeling optimistic about future business. Why should I care? Zooming out: It’s tarot time. Economists don’t book psychic appointments: they use the housing market as their crystal ball. Stats like home sales, building permits, and house prices indicate how the economy as a whole is faring – and the latest promising signs are backed up by December’s US consumer confidence rising by the most since early 2021. So with the housing market seeming stable and Americans feeling financially confident, it’s no wonder Goldman Sachs pumped up its economic growth predictions for the last quarter of this year. The bigger picture: London’s crying. Homeowners in Britain won’t be quite as cheery, mind you: the average UK home turned 1.2% cheaper between this October and last, the quickest fall in over a decade. The steepest price drops are happening in the capital, too, with folk swapping London life for cheaper, roomier abodes elsewhere. But since the country’s inflation started falling in line in November, the Bank of England may start feeling the pressure from testy homeowners to cut its 15-year-high interest rates. You might also like: [Here's why the US housing market is so resilient](. 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=Heart Rates&utm_campaign=daily-global-22-12-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take The UK’s Stocks Have Been Dreary, But That May Change In 2024 [The UK’s Stocks Have Been Dreary, But That May Change In 2024]( The UK’s big stock index has been [unloved and overlooked]( by investors all year. But it’s kept a stiff upper lip, and that hardiness might be about to pay off. Inflation finally seems to be falling toward the Bank of England’s target level, which means interest rate cuts – and [a change in fortunes]( for the neglected FTSE 100 – could feature in the year ahead. So let’s grab a cuppa and take a look at where you might Britain’s best-looking opportunities. That’s today’s Insight: [why 2024 could be a good year for UK stocks](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY AJ BELL MONEY MATTERS The gender investment gap still exists. Let’s change that. It’s a tired old stereotype that men are more wealthy than women. Unfortunately, stereotypes are often based on fact… AJ Bell has done some research and found that, on average, women have less in savings, investments, and pensions than men do. That’s pretty disappointing given it’s nearly 2024. In protest, AJ Bell started [Money Matters](: its campaign to help close the gender wealth gap. And the firm noticed a few financial pitfalls that disproportionately affect women along the way. [To find out where those pitfalls lie, read AJ Bell’s report](. The first step to fixing anything is identifying what’s wrong, after all – and it’s beyond time to address the things that negatively impact women’s finances [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Seas Up [Seas Up] What’s going on here? [Attacks]( on cargo ships in the Red Sea fueled concern for supply of oil and goods. What does this mean? Yemen’s Houthi movement intensified attacks on fuel tankers and cargo ships in the Red Sea, sparked by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. That’s big: the Red Sea links some of Europe and Asia’s biggest traders. In fact, around $1 trillion worth of goods – that’s 12% of all global trade – pass through the canal every year. The US has already pulled together an international naval task force and scoped out military options in response, but the Houthis movement seem undeterred. The group has threatened further retaliation if the US calls on that force, and it has a track record of following through: previously claimed attacks include drone strikes on major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. Why should I care? For markets: Goldman says relax. The attacks also pose a risk for all-important oil, which is why major shipping companies like BP, MSC, and Maersk are suspending some routes and taking the long way round instead. And because the 100-plus ships that are taking the scenic tour around Africa will cost more and take longer to arrive, the effects may be seen in higher oil prices – a catalyst for inflation. But rest assured: Goldman Sachs thinks the longer-term effect on oil and gas prices will be capped, predicting prices will rise by only a few dollars per barrel in the worst-case scenario. The bigger picture: Fail to prepare, prepare to hurt. Brace yourself for 2024: international relations are already heady, and that’s before a record-breaking two billion voters from 50 countries head to the election polls. Sure, the effects of political changes and geopolitical shocks level out over time, but global volatility remains one of the biggest risks for investors in the shorter term. You’ll want to fortify your portfolio in advance, then, whether that be through more diversification or safe-haven assets like gold. might also like: [Why you might want to invest in commodities.]( 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=Seas Up&utm_campaign=daily-global-22-12-2023&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 "Things are not quite so simple always as black and white." – Doris Lessing (a British novelist) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY HEALTHWORDS.AI The medical industry is about to change forever Healthwords.ai is on a mission to digitize the traditional health experience. Last year, 60 million folk saw a doctor for symptoms that could have been managed and treated at home. Now, using [healthwords.ai](’s conversational AI, you can do just that. Founded by experienced pharmacists, the British-made platform strips out medical jargon to help you understand when you need to see a doctor and when you can care for yourself at home. And if it’s the latter, you can order the medical products you need straight to your door in just a few clicks. After all, nipping to the shops is the last thing you want to do when you’re ill. [Discover high-tech medical solutions designed by highly skilled medical experts.]( [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🎯 On Our Radar 1. Podcasts will sound different next year. Here are [four reasons why](. 2. This decade is not like the last. Here's how to [make sure your strategy will keep up](.* 3. Someone bill Kevin McCallister. [Christmas in New York]( will cost you. 4. Active ETFs are evolving fast. Find out how the right ones could help you [beat the market](.** 5. The screen doesn't matter anymore. YouTubers have [infiltrated our real lives](. *Investing puts your capital at risk. **Your capital is at risk. 70% 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... 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