🇨🇳 China's breaking up

Asian emerging markets are in trouble | Exxon is ready to sue, double-time | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH   Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for January 23rd in 3:07 minutes.   📈 Even the hardiest investors have tilted their risk-reward balance to the more cautious side. So catch up on our [Stocks, Bonds Or Cash: Where To Invest Now?]( event, and find out how to keep your portfolio steady when the world is anything but. [Check out the video]( Today's big stories - Moody’s warned investors to look out for Asian nations' creditworthiness - China's shrinking, aging population could rejuvenate your portfolio – [Read Now]( - Exxon Mobil announced plans to sue two activist investors Ghost Towns [Ghost Towns] What’s going on here? Ratings agency [Moody’s]( warned that some Asian emerging markets (EMs) may be left lonely and unloved, as their beloved China cuts them off. What does this mean? China is a nice neighbor to have. The country might not keep a spare stash of milk and watch folks’ dogs when they’re on vacation, but it does tend to stock up on a whole host of goodies from its next-door EMs. But now that China’s economic prowess has essentially skipped town, the surrounding nations are missing out on a steady stream of income. That’s a big problem, according to credit agency Moody’s, which doubts that China’s neighbors have the resources to plug that hole. Why should I care? The bigger picture: Rock, meet hard place. EM nations can’t count on foreign lenders to bridge the gap, either. Lenders tend to err on the side of caution when handing out loans in less common currencies, because the higher risk of fluctuation means they might be paid back less than they’d like in their original currency. That’s why EM governments gravitate toward dollars, instead. Problem is, if the country’s currency falls, the difference in value against the dollar would make it more expensive to pay back that dollar-denominated debt. That leaves those countries in a sticky spot: lower rates to spur on an economy, or keep them higher to make borrowing money – essential cash for stimulating businesses – more manageable. For markets: Star spangled, indeed. Analysts had predicted that US stocks would lose their dominance, after a decade or so of running the world’s markets. But that was before investors flurried into US tech stocks, a bid to claim a part of the AI theme. So while EM countries are touted for their long-term potential, China’s MSCI index has yet to deliver: you’d be in the red if you’d invested when it started in 1992, a long way off the S&P 500’s 1,000% uptick over the same period. You might also like: [Why China’s shrinking population and prices are a worry](. 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=Ghost Towns&utm_campaign=daily-global-23-01-2024&utm_source=email) Analyst Take China’s Getting Older, But There Could Be Some Spry Investing Opportunities In That [China’s Getting Older, But There Could Be Some Spry Investing Opportunities In That]( [Photo of Reda Farran, CFA] Reda Farran, CFA, Analyst China just isn’t getting any younger. Its population continued a [historic decline]( in 2023, falling for the second year in a row to 1.409 billion. And this [aging process]( involves a lot more than crow’s feet: it will impact the country’s economy and beyond. But it’s also expected to create a new wave of [investment opportunities]( as the government adjusts its spending to the evolving demographic and consumption trends. That’s today’s Insight: [how to invest gracefully with China’s aging trends](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY CONSUMERDIRECT A massive market need, one glaring problem Over 92 million Americans have bad [credit scores]( (1). That means they’re forking out thousands on interest payments alone. And to make matters worse, plenty of borrowers don’t know how to bring their credit score back into the green. But those Americans can take financial control back with [ConsumerDirect’s patented credit tools](: the SmartCredit product analyzes credit scores and gets folks back on the path to positives. So far, over 300,000 subscribers have saved nearly $3 billion in interest payments (2), while ConsumerDirect made [$91.4 million in revenue last year]( (3) - up 540% since 2019 (4). Now, you can become a catalyst for positive change in people’s financial journey: [ConsumerDirect is open for its first investors on StartEngine today](. [Find Out More]( Disclaimer1) Based on information obtained from the following publications: [FICO](, [Experian.](~:text=40% of consumers have FICO,check your FICO® Scor) 2) Calculation Methodology: Our savings calculations are estimates using historical internal data. It is based on analyzing subscribers' credit reports that had an increased credit score, while a current subscriber, for two categories: new auto and new mortgage financings. The calculations assumed precise credit score reporting, a consistent correlation between score ranges and financing rates, uniform loan terms except for interest rates, and steady interest rates over the loan’s term, along with unvarying borrowing behaviors among users. It’s important to note that our calculation estimates rely on accurate credit reporting, average loan data and current interest rates, but may not account for an individual subscriber’s interest rate variations, if any, or significant shifts in users’ borrowing and repayment habits, if any. Additionally, there was an assumed conversion from VantageScore® v3.0 to FICO® v8.0 and then verified by an official FICO® v8.0 calculator to determine savings from starting credit score to credit score before the above mentioned financing occurred. Our calculation is subject to change without notice. 3) Based on an Internal financial statements evaluation of gross revenue calculated for the trailing 12 months ending December 2023. 4)Based on an Internal financial statements evaluation of growth revenue calculated between 10/19-09/23. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Stop While The Going’s Good [Stop While The Going’s Good] What’s going on here? News broke that Exxon Mobil is taking two activist investors to [court]( for, uh, trying to save us all from extinction. What does this mean? Exxon has been a target for green-minded ESG petitioners for years, and it looks like the gas-extracting powerhouse has had enough of the peer pressure. The company was forced to replace a quarter of its board with new directors back in 2021, after it lost a battle with activist investor Engine No. 1. So now it’s playing offense, filing a lawsuit against activist investors Follow This and Arjuna Capital, both of which are pushing a proposal to clamp down on greenhouse gas emissions faster. Naturally, traditional energy companies aren’t known for putting the world above profit, but Exxon’s choice to take the duo to court is an unusually aggressive strategy. The energy goliath, though, believes that this eco-minded plan would sacrifice company and shareholder interests, which barely measures up to the trifling issue of Mother Nature’s survival. Why should I care? For markets: A little too (eco) friendly. Exxon isn’t the only company disgruntled with the efforts of activist investors, but it could be the one to set a precedent. Many firms believe that the US financial watchdog is letting too many eco-focused proposals make it to the boardroom for annual meetings, and if Exxon wins its case, those vetting standards could get tightened up. The bigger picture: Check the recycling bin. It’s true, some ESG initiatives are more about bold claims than genuine progress. But more than a handful of shareholder petitions manage to marry business goals with long-term sustainability plans – and if businesses want to earn a place in the next decade’s economy, they should think twice before throwing those outlines out. You might also like: [How to make money by making a difference](. 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=Stop While The Going’s Good&utm_campaign=daily-global-23-01-2024&utm_source=email) SPONSORED BY SWISSBORG Bitcoin’s big break The approval of [bitcoin ETFs]( will likely be the catalyst for a new flood of crypto investors. After all, the first gold ETF made the precious metal a lot more accessible, and sparked an increase in demand that never really faded away. So this news is practically a beacon for investors who are interested in crypto, but put off by the effort of direct investments. Plus, the timing’s right: many see bitcoin as [a decent inflation hedge](. What’s more, as the artificial intelligence trend keeps building onto itself, major institutions will be more likely to [embrace blockchain technologies]( – and bitcoin is the first coin they’ll come across. The last piece of the puzzle: the famed [bitcoin halving]( event takes place in April, which makes the digital currency more scarce and as a result, historically pulling up its price. [Get The Details]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 💬 Quote of the day "We may achieve climate, but weather is thrust upon us." – O. Henry (an American writer) [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 $12,000. 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. Bless you. With everyone in the office sniffling, you’ve got to [look after number one](. 2. Crypto projects thrive on network effects. Here's [what to look at in a crypto project]( to see how much it’s worth.* 3. Gossip from a little Birdie. [Electric scooters]( could inspire the next gory drama series. 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. Babbel on. Discover what [two decades in the language industry]( teaches you (besides decent French.) **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. 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. 📈 [Investing Beyond Stocks And Bonds](: 5pm, February 1st ❤️ 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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