Epic Investment Partners Views: The Week Ahead

Following the buzz around China last week, the nation begins its Golden Week celebrations from tomorrow. Other key events this week include the Fed Chair Powell’s speech (Mon) and the all-important US jobs report (Fri). UK GDP will garner interest today. Eurozone HCOB PMI and CPI prints, the UK manufacturing PMI reading, and US job openings and ISM manufacturing will be scrutinised on Tuesday. Eurozone unemployment features on Wednesday. US ISM services, factory orders and initial jobless claims will draw market attention on Thursday. US nonfarm payrolls are currently expected to show that 130k jobs were added in September, with unemployment steady at 4.2% and average hourly earnings easing to 3.7%yoy. 

Central bank chatter includes ECB President Lagarde and the BoE’s Greene later today. The Fed’s Bostic, Cook, Barkin and Collins speak at a Technology-Enabled Disruption conference, the ECB’s Rehn, Guindos, Schnabel and Nagel attend separate events, and we will hear from the BoE’s Pill and incoming SNB President Schlegel on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Fed’s Barkin, Hammack, Musalem and Bowman, and several ECB members including Lane, Holzmann and Schnabel speak, and we have the BoE’s policy minutes. The Fed’s Kashkari and Bostic will discuss an inclusive economy on Thursday.  

US data remained mixed with the S&P Global manufacturing PMI reading unexpectedly falling further into contraction to 47, while services eased to 55.4. The Conference Board consumer confidence reading also surprised to the downside, suffering the largest monthly drop since August 2021. Later the Q2’24 estimate was unchanged at 3%yoy, however, personal consumption was marginally lower at 2.8%. Markets were, however, more interested in the Fed’s favoured inflation measure, the PCE Price Index. Both the headline and core readings came in at 0.1%mom. Later the University of Michigan sentiment reading nudged slightly higher, with the 1-year and 5–10-year inflation targets staying at 2.7%.  

Elsewhere, China’s policymakers announced a raft of stimulus measures to revitalise the economy, and markets were receptive. The disappointing official and Caixin PMI prints released over the weekend and this morning, for September, reinforced the need for additional support. The September Politburo meeting, unusually focused on economic matters, signalled a renewed urgency to meet growth targets. This, coupled with the government’s recognition of capital markets’ role in economic recovery and targeted measures for the property sector, has bolstered investor confidence. However, the sustainability of sentiment is still contingent upon improvements in economic fundamentals, particularly through forthcoming fiscal policies that extend beyond monetary interventions. The renminbi enjoyed a bounce, rallying to the psychological 7 level against the dollar.  


Epic Investment Partner’s Key risks & Disclaimers:

EPIC Global Equity Fund (the “Fund”) is a sub-fund of EPIC Funds p.l.c. (the “Company”), which is an open-ended umbrella fund authorised in Ireland as a UCITS fund and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. This marketing material has been approved in the UK by EPIC Markets (UK) LLP, trading as EPIC Investment Partners, which is a limited liability partnership incorporated and registered in England and Wales under partnership OC306260 with its registered office at Audrey House, 16-20 Ely Place, London EC1N 6SN. EPIC Markets (UK) LLP is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Distribution of this material and the offer of the Fund are specifically restricted in certain jurisdictions. In particular, but without limitation, neither this material nor shares in the Fund are available to US persons.

This document is for general information purposes only and does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It is not a personal recommendation and it should not be regarded as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any shares in the Fund. This document represents the views of EPIC Investment Partners at the time of writing. It should not be construed as investment advice. Any person interested in investing in the Fund should conduct their own investigation and analysis of the Fund and should consult their own professional tax, accounting or other advisers as to the risks involved in making such an investment. Full details of the Fund’s investment objectives, investment policy and risks are set out in the Fund’s Prospectus and Supplement which, together with the Key Information Document (“KID”), are available on request and free of charge from Maples Fund Services (Ireland) Limited, 32 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, Ireland and, in the UK, from EPIC Markets (UK) LLP, Audrey House, 16-20 Ely Place, London EC1N 6SN. Any offering of the Fund is only made on the terms of the current Prospectus, Supplement and KID. A subscription in the Fund can only be made after the provision of the KIID and should be made solely upon the information contained in the Prospectus, Supplement and KID.

An investment in the Fund is not suitable for an investor who cannot sustain a loss on their investment. There is no guarantee of the Fund’s future performance and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The value of your investment and the income derived from it can go down as well as up, and you may not get back the money you invested. The risks associated with making an investment in the Fund are described in the Prospectus and Supplement but investors should note, in particular, the following: 1) Foreign currency denominated investments are subject to fluctuations in exchange rates that could have a positive or an adverse effect on an investor’s returns. There is also a risk that currency hedging transactions for one share class may in extreme cases adversely affect the net asset value of the other share classes within the same sub-fund since there is no legal segregation between share classes; 2) The Fund is subject to the risk of the insolvency of its counterparties; and 3) Emerging market securities are subject to greater social, political, regulatory, and currency risks than developed market securities. This may impact the liquidity and value of such securities and, consequently, the value of the Fund.


MeDirect Disclaimers:

This information has been accurately reproduced, as received from EPIC Investment Partners. No information has been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading. This information is being distributed by MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to its customers. The information contained in this document is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or other professional advice nor does it commit MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to any obligation whatsoever. The information available in this document is not intended to be a suggestion, recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell, any securities and is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness.

The financial instruments discussed in the document is intended for retail clients however, it may not be suitable for all investors and investors must make their own informed decisions and seek their own advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments or implementing strategies discussed herein.

If you invest in this product you may lose some or all of the money you invest. The value of your investment may go down as well as up. A commission or sales fee may be charged at the time of the initial purchase for an investment. Any income you get from this investment may go down as well as up. This product may be affected by changes in currency exchange rate movements thereby affecting your investment return therefrom. The performance figures quoted refer to the past and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance or a reliable guide to future performance. Any decision to invest in a mutual fund should always be based upon the details contained in the Prospectus and Key Information Document (KID), which may be obtained from MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc.

The security features of digital wallets

In the digital age, the convenience of digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay has revolutionised the way we transact. These platforms not only streamline the payment process but also offer a level of security for your bank card details that traditional methods may lack. As digital wallets increasingly become the norm, understanding how to protect our financial information becomes paramount.

Digital wallets employ a variety of security measures to safeguard user data. One of the core technologies they use is tokenisation, which replaces sensitive card details with unique identifiers during transactions. This means that even if a transaction is intercepted, the actual card numbers are not compromised. Furthermore, digital wallets often require multi-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of security. Users might need to enter a PIN, use a fingerprint, or facial recognition to authorise a transaction, ensuring that the person making the purchase is the legitimate cardholder.

Another advantage of digital wallets is their ability to isolate payment information from other applications on your device. This compartmentalisation helps protect against malware that could otherwise access sensitive data if it were to infiltrate your phone. Additionally, the encryption technology used by digital wallets is designed to shield personal information from potential hackers.

To maximise the security of digital wallets, however, you should also make sure you also take proactive steps. Strong, unique passwords for wallet accounts are essential, and enabling multi-factor authentication where available can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access. It is also wise to password-protect your mobile device and consider installing additional security software to fend off malware and other threats.

Being vigilant in public spaces is also crucial. Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks when accessing your digital wallet, as these can be hotspots for cybercriminals looking to capture personal information. Regularly monitoring bank accounts can help you spot any unusual activity early on, allowing you to take swift action if necessary.

The integration of digital wallets into our daily lives presents a convenient and secure method to manage our finances. By understanding the security features of these platforms and taking active measures to protect your information, it is possible to navigate the digital marketplace with peace of mind.

Evolution of digital payment systems continues, and staying informed is the best defence against potential risks.

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