🚫 Meta's sick of politics

Meta might shun politics, going green, and lunar tourism | [TOGETHER WITH]( Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for March 31st in 3:09 minutes. 💪 Beat the hotshots at their own game. Join Sweater’s Jesse Randall for [How To Invest Like A Venture Capitalist]( on April 17th, and learn how to size up a company using a VC’s killer instincts. [Get your free ticket]( Today's big stories - Europe’s lawmakers saw green and pushed for even more clean energy - Here’s how one analyst is weighing up assets, even in all this uncertainty – [Read Now]( - Meta could be pulling the plug on political ads in Europe Green For Go [Green For Go] What’s Going On Here? European lawmakers are close to agreeing on a more ambitious renewable energy target, according to news out on [Thursday](. What Does This Mean? Europe's leaders don't always see eye to eye on thorny matters like bank bailouts or which country makes the best cheese – but they’re all singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to green energy. See, the EU’s currently gearing up to boost its 2030 renewable energy consumption target by 10 percentage points, upping the goal from 32% to 42.5%. And while that’s ambitious, it might be doable. After all, the bloc [outstripped]( its 2020 target (though an honorable mention goes to Covid for denting fossil fuel demand). And since then, the war in Ukraine has only driven home the importance of having reliable energy on tap. Why Should I Care? Zooming out: Talk is cheap. The White House recently unveiled a green vision of its own, declaring that it wants renewables to provide 80% of America's electricity by 2030. But with fossil fuels currently accounting for around 60% of US power, that super-ambitious plan has raised more than a few eyebrows. And that’s the thing about targets: ambition’s important, but as any entrepreneur knows, setting unachievable goals means that folk eventually stop trying. So maybe the Europeans have the right approach this time around… The bigger picture: The world’s biggest check. Researchers at Stanford University estimate that a staggering $62 trillion is needed to transition the world to renewable energy ([tweet this](). And while governments will probably end up picking up most of that check, trying to fund such an immense project – equivalent to over half the global economy, or $7,500 per person on the planet – would require either huge debt or some sort of bumper green taxes. Still, Stanford’s experts think the uber-cheap energy we’d be bringing in would mean we’d recoup the investment in under six years – that could make it a cost worth bearing, and sooner rather than later. You might also like: [This could happen: oil’s price could go to zero.]( 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=Green For Go&utm_campaign=daily-global-31-03-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take Bonds, Equities, Or Cash – My Investing Tactics [Bonds, Equities, Or Cash – My Investing Tactics]( Central banks are [in a dilemma]( this month – as they might be for months ahead – when it comes to inflation and interest rates. They’re [between a rock and a hard place](: inflation and wage rises aren’t letting up, setting the case for higher interest rates. But after the collapse of several major banks collapsing, there’s even more fear and financial instability. And investors are [up against it too](. They’ll be seeking a safe haven that doesn’t compromise flexibility – and they won’t settle for letting their cash rot away in low-interest deposit accounts. That’s today’s Insight: [how you might approach investing in this financially unstable environment.]( [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY HARGREAVES LANSDOWN The government could help you buy your next home Homes are hard to afford, that’s for sure, so you’d be smart to snap up help where you can. Well, [Hargreaves Lansdown’s Lifetime ISA]( could be a real helping hand: with it, you can invest up to £4,000 a year, shelter any returns from UK tax, and get a 25% government bonus. Here’s how it would work. If you paid £333 a month into your Lifetime ISA, the government would top that up by £83.25. In one year, that would add up to £4,995. In ten, that’s £49,950. Add in a sprinkling of magical compound interest, and your pot could hit £64,515 if you assume an annual growth rate of 5%. Now, that could be a decent deposit for your next home. Remember, though, nothing’s ever guaranteed. The amount you get back depends on the performance of the investments you choose. And here’s the best bit: Hargreaves just cut its annual account charge almost in half, so now could be the perfect time to [start saving in a Lifetime ISA](. Please see details on charges and fees [here](. You can open a LISA between 18 and 39. After 12 months from the first payment, you can use the money to make an eligible house purchase for a property worth up to £450,000. Or you can wait until you’re 60 and take your money out then. If you want to take money out before you’re 60 and you aren’t buying your first home, there’s usually a 25% government charge. That means you could get back less than you originally put in. Tax rules can change and their benefits depend on your circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value so you could get back less than you invest. The charges and fees figures provided do not take into account inflation and any charges you may pay. This is not personal advice if you are unsure if a course of action is suitable please seek advice. [Find Out More]( Metapolitics [Metapolitics] What’s Going On Here? Meta’s mulling a blanket political advertising ban in Europe, according to news out on [Thursday](. What Does This Mean? Political meddling is quite the headache these days, and European lawmakers are getting their feathers all ruffled over it. They're not too pleased that huge chunks of voters – who absorb all kinds of social media news – are being targeted by groups aiming to sway elections, so they're putting the final touches on new rules about how political ads are defined and treated. The catch: these rules tend to be thesis-level complicated, and all that red tape has got Meta thinking about completely dropping politics in the region. Why Should I Care? Zooming out: Not worth the hassle. Nixing political ads isn’t likely to have shareholders in tears. After all, Meta pulled in $800 million in political ad revenue during the two years leading up to the big Trump-Biden face-off – and while that sounds impressive, it's actually a minuscule 0.5% of the ad giant's $156 billion total revenue over that time. What's more, Facebook and co. constantly find themselves in the firing line when it comes to politics, accused of being biased one way or the other. One solution is simply to say, “Merci but non merci” to political ads in Europe from now on. For markets: Political rally. Zoom out far enough, and politics don't matter much for stock markets: after all, there's little to no correlation between which party's ruling the White House and how stocks generally fare. But if you zoom back in, one tasty political tidbit does exist: stocks tend to rally in the months leading up to a win by a sitting [president](, but they’ve tended to be in negative territory before a challenger comes out on top. So sure, a red or blue president might not directly affect stock performance – but there’s still a thin thread connecting markets to the race for the White House. You might also like: [Goldman report reveals hedge funds’ 50 “VIP” 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=Metapolitics&utm_campaign=daily-global-31-03-2023&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day “Every person takes the limits of their own field of vision for the limits of the world.” – Arthur Schopenhauer (a German philosopher) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY BESTINVEST Explore this tax-saving technique before it’s too late If you spend your time chasing returns, you’ll want to pocket as much of that cash as you can. Well, with [a Bestinvest stocks and shares ISA](, you can invest in [shares, funds, investment trusts, and bonds]( – and if you’re short on time, you can even [pick a ready-made portfolio](. You can currently [invest up to £20,000]( into an ISA every year, and – here’s the bit you’ve been waiting for – [you won’t pay tax on any of the gains]( you make. And don’t worry if you’re not starting fresh: [Bestinvest]( makes it quick and easy to [transfer over an existing ISA]( in cash or investments. But if you want to [shelter your returns from tax](, you’ll have to act soon: [this year’s deadline is April 5th](. [Find Out More]( With investing, your capital may be at risk. Tax rules depend on individual circumstances and may change. ISA rules may also change. This is not advice to invest. Bestinvest is a trading name of Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 🌍 Finimize Live 🥳 Coming Up Soon… All events in UK time.📚 [A Guide To Maximizing Your Tax Allowance](: 5pm, April 3rd 🔮 [Future of Finance: Waking Up To The Retail Investor]( (London): 6.30pm, April 12th 💸 [Should You Save Your Cash Or Invest?](: 1pm, April 13th 🌎 [How To Invest Like A Venture Capitalist](: 6pm, April 17th 💰 [How To Build Wealth In The New Tax Year](: 1pm, April 18th 🙋‍♀️ [Women And Investing: Powering Up Your Pension](: 5pm, April 25th 💥 [Investing 101: The DIY Investor](: 1pm, May 4th 🎉 [Modern Investor Summit 2023](: 12pm, December 5th and 6th 🎯 On Our Radar - Older for longer. Scientists think that humans could be living to [record ages]( by 2060. - A step too far. The online thirst for [Pedro Pascal]( is almost crossing a line. - Cool, calm, and collected. Gaining [confidence]( takes time – but it can be done. - Lunar tourism. Here’s what’s behind the massive funding for [expeditions to the moon](. - The big philosophical fraud. Scholars are still arguing over whether this [ancient thinker’s letters]( are genuine. ❤️ 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: Kolonko – Shutterstock | Tribalium – Shutterstock 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. 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