🍟 McDonald's craving: satisfied

McDonald's kept its arches golden | Germany's inflation slipped, but so did its economy | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH   Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for October 31st in 3:07 minutes.   👻 You'll be scared today, whether it's at the hands of a bone-chilling movie or a child dressed in an especially spooky costume. But join us for the [Modern Investor Summit]( on December 5th and 6th, and at least you won't be frightened by finance next year. [Get your free Summit ticket]( Today's big stories - McDonald’s reported third-quarter earnings that could make your mouth water, but investors were focused on waistlines - The very best retail investors live by these ten simple rules – [Read Now]( - Inflation finally started falling across Europe, but the region’s biggest economy is paying the price Very Happy Meal [Very Happy Meal] What’s going on here? McDonald’s [reported]( golden third-quarter results on Monday, and they may be worth some lovin’. What does this mean? Investors have been keeping McDonald’s at arm’s length, wary that the US’s new obsession with [weight-loss]( drugs won’t exactly jibe with Happy Meals. But it seems the fast food giant kept its “Supersize Me” spirit: by beefing up prices, McDonald’s managed to make 9% more in same-store sales – that's sales from restaurants open for at least a year – and better-than-expected profit. Wall Street even reckons that this hustle could leave the company’s bottom line 15% higher at the end of this year than last. Maybe, then, investors are being too cautious. After all, every dieter craves a chicken nugget now and then. Why should I care? The bigger picture: Death, taxes, and Big Macs. McDonald’s has survived many health-conscious waves before, mind you. The first salad appeared on the menu almost forty years ago, and a number of savvy offerings and even smarter marketing strategies have managed to keep McDonald’s reputation shining ever since. So even if this health craze is the one that sticks, a few grilled burger alternatives and low-calorie dips may well keep the Golden Arches glowing. For markets: Spot the difference. Instead of swallowing rising costs itself, McDonald’s has been serving them up to its money-conscious customers. And it’s not alone: just about every business that can get away with it is doing the same. Thing is, inflation – and its impact on costs – will come down at some point. When that happens, some firms will need to lower prices again to keep customers coming back, while others will be able to get away with keeping prices where they are and pocketing the difference. You might also like: [Beware the rise of unprofitable firms](. 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=Very Happy Meal&utm_campaign=daily-global-31-10-2023&utm_source=email) [mcrib] This chart shows the average daily return of the S&P 500 when the McDonald's McRib™ is on the menu and when it's not. Yup, really. And get this: [the McRib sandwich will be back in its restaurants starting November](. Bon appétit. Analyst Take Ten Lessons From The Most Successful Everyday Traders [Ten Lessons From The Most Successful Everyday Traders]( [Photo of Reda Farran, CFA] Reda Farran, CFA, Analyst Not every superstar investor has [a name you’ve heard of](. Author Jack Schwager can certainly attest to that: he’s spent the past 30 years talking to [the market’s best players](. His latest book, "Unknown Market Wizards", features the ones who – despite only ever investing in their personal accounts and never officially working in finance – [have brought in better returns]( than the industry’s most celebrated pros. And there are [ten key lessons]( you can take from their stories. That’s today’s Insight: [ten things you can learn from the very best retail investors](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY ADMIRALS Your best investment options during a downturn If you write off investing in tough times, you’re writing off [opportunities](. After all, there are tons of options out there that suit investors of all styles and risk tolerances – and you can [find them all on Admirals](. [Safe havens like gold and commodities]( tend to hold their value and can hedge against inflation, while ETFs can simplify access to hedge fund strategies for investors. Remember, too, that downsides offer you a chance to buy quality assets at a lower-than-usual price, allowing you to rebalance your portfolio and potentially capture fresh gains. [Learn how to guard your wealth in turbulent times with Admirals.]( [Find Out More]( DisclaimerInvesting Involves Risk. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Give And Take [Give And Take] What’s going on here? Inflation’s finally cooling down in [Germany]( and [Spain](, but at the cost of a slowdown in Europe’s biggest economy. What does this mean? Europe’s a diverse place: drive a couple of hours, and sangria and paella turn into champagne and escargot. The same is true on the economists’ tour. A trip to Spain features prices that picked up less than expected in October, meaning inflation there held steady from September. Then fly to Germany, and while inflation’s also calming down, the main attraction is the economy’s 0.1% dip in the third quarter versus the second. That’s an ominous sign that Europe’s biggest economy is hurtling toward a recession, which would make it hard for the rest of the region to avoid following suit. Not even a stein of beer and a currywurst will help wash that down. Why should I care? Zooming out: En Lagarde. That data at least shows the European Central Bank is starting to win points in its long-fought battle against inflation. And if it stays that way, the bank can slash interest rates to buoy up the region's economy if it does enter an all-out recession. The Federal Reserve, though, still has some hard yards to go. Despite an onslaught of aggressive rate hikes, inflation hasn’t moved for a while and the economy’s still keeping pace, which will only add fuel to the fire and keep prices on the up. For markets: An unfair exchange. The prospect of higher rates usually floats a country’s currency higher, so you’d think the dollar would be towering above the euro. But the difference between the two is fairly flat versus the beginning of the year. And while the dollar looks decent against its historical standards, it’s way below its standing from this time last year. Here’s what gives: investors are more worried about the massive US debt pile these days, so they aren’t going all-in on greenbacks even though they have a lot going for them. You might also like: [The 10-year treasury yield pops above 5% – and it’s 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=Give And Take&utm_campaign=daily-global-31-10-2023&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day "In the game of love, the losers are more celebrated than the winners." – Mason Cooley (an American aphorist) [Tweet this]( SPONSORED BY CROWDCUBE AND HAATCH Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. 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[Take 2 mins to learn more.]( Information is for guidance only and is dependent on individual circumstances. It is always recommended that you take professional advice regarding tax reliefs for your individual circumstances. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🎯 On Our Radar 1. Thailand is a foodie’s paradise. Here’s [what to eat]( when you land. 2. You need a lot of time and knowledge to be a value investor. Well, unless you have a [digital assistant to do the heavy lifting for you](.* 3. This isn’t just a crisis. This could be a [polycrisis](. 4. AI-enhanced investing is here. Unlock the [control of a brokerage, smarts of AI, and guidance of an advisor]( with Magnifi.* 5. Entertainment is expensive. It can cost your weight in gold to [watch a couple of movies]( these days. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🥳 Coming Up In The Next Week... 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