Finimize - 🎤 The Shakira bond boom

Bonds backed by chicken wings and pop songs, record highs for coffee prices, and orcas with salmon on their heads |
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Hi Reader, here's what you need to know for December 11th in 3:12 minutes.

  1. Obscure bonds – backed by fast food and pop songs – have been booming
  2. Red flag or golden opportunity: here’s where Alphabet’s shares stand now – Read Now
  3. A long dry spell in Brazil means your coffee might soon cost, ahem, a latte

🏆 It's pretty unusual to meet an Emmy winner in finance. But Theresa McLaughlin has one for good reason: her viral campaigns have moved people and transformed businesses. In our latest CMOs In Finance Podcast, she shares her approach. Listen Here

Wing And A Prayer
Wing And A Prayer

What’s going on here?

Wall Street’s been at it again, selling bonds backed by chicken wings and music royalties like it’s 2007.

What does this mean?

Fast food revenues and royalties from artists like Shakira, Fleetwood Mac, and Bon Jovi might not scream “investment-grade” opportunities, but they’ve become the latest obsession. A craving for juicy returns has sparked the biggest boom in obscure financial products since the rowdy days that led to the global financial crisis. That’s got the pros bundling niche income streams – think fast-food franchise fees, song royalties, and oil well revenues – into bonds with higher yields than the boring, government-issued stuff. So while Wall Street’s dealmakers may be back to their creative best, let’s not pretend it’s out of idle curiosity: investor appetite has been driving this boom just as much as the bankers’ knack for, well, turning anything into a bond. And don’t bother Googling how to buy them: unless you’re a big-league investor, the vast majority won’t be available to you.

Why should I care?

For markets: Small fry, but big appetite.

At $380 billion this year, these deals are still more of a side dish than a main course and, thankfully, small enough not to threaten the whole financial system. Plus, they are catering to a genuine need: baby boomers looking for steady, attractive retirement income. But the obscure nature of the bonds means their risks aren’t always front and center. And the more outlandish and complicated they become, the faster they’ve been growing. In fact, the number sold is up 50% this year compared to last, showing that greed is firmly back on the menu.

The bigger picture: Risky rhythms.

Shakira’s hips don’t lie, and maybe markets don’t either. This boom shows that yield-hungry investors have been pushing boundaries – and perhaps common sense – to lock in returns. They’ve been piling in because risk seems low, but history loves to remind us that risk is actually often the highest when it feels the lowest.

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TODAY'S INSIGHT

Google’s Cheap-Looking Stock Could Be An Opportunity – Or A Trap

Russell Burns

Google’s Cheap-Looking Stock Could Be An Opportunity – Or A Trap

It’s hard to know what to think about Google and its parent company Alphabet. (And it seems wrong just to “Google” it.)

This titan of search, cloud, and mobile keeps growing its prominence in our online lives and coming up with groundbreaking innovations – its super-powerful quantum computer is just the latest.

But it’s also facing two very real threats: one from generative AI and the other from an antitrust case that could force this giant’s breakup. And that’s taken a toll on its stock valuation.

So with its shares now among the “cheapest” in the Magnificent Seven, I decided to crunch some numbers and find out whether this might be a magnificent time to buy.

Here’s how I did it, along with the models you can use to make your own assessment.

That’s today’s Insight: Google’s cheap-looking stock could be an opportunity – or a trap.

Read or listen to the Insight here

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Caffeine Headache
Caffeine Headache

What’s going on here?

A dry spell in Brazil has driven coffee prices to record highs, creating a serious buzzkill for anyone looking forward to a morning cup.

What does this mean?

Volcafe – one of the world’s biggest coffee traders – has slashed its forecasts for global arabica production because of Brazil’s intense weather. It now sees just 34 million bags of beans being churned out in the 2025-26 season – 11 million bags fewer than what was estimated just three months ago, and about 8.5 million bags short of demand. That’s left arabica coffee futures percolating to record highs in New York, up 80% so far this year. And it’s not just Brazil having weather trouble: drier conditions in Vietnam, followed by heavy rains during the robusta bean harvest, have put a damper on production there too.

Why should I care?

For markets: A brewing problem.

Just about every cup of coffee you drink is either arabica or robusta. And if you’re getting your caffeine fix from Starbucks and McDonald’s – as millions do – you’re sipping some 100% arabica beans. Your kitchen coffee likely isn’t too different: Nespresso pods tend to be at least 90% arabica, with a splash of the less-expensive robusta thrown in. But if these big brands start cutting costs by swapping your sweet, smooth arabica beans for something cheaper, you might end up with a more bitter cup.

The bigger picture: Strength in numbers.

Companies typically compensate for higher raw material costs by raising customer prices and trimming internal expenses. The goal, after all, is to keep profits intact. And the latter was likely the motivating factor when snacks and sweets giant Mondelez recently extended an offer to buy Pennsylvania-based chocolatier Hershey. The deal would flurry together favorite brands like Oreo and Reese’s, creating a sweet, cost-effective powerhouse.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

"What's right is what's left if you do everything else wrong."

– Robin Williams (an American actor and comedian)
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🎯 On Our Radar

Dips and desserts. Recipes for the perfect holiday season party.

Turn earnings season into opportunity. Learn how to trade options around key reports with smart strategies.*

Goofing around. Orcas have been spotted wearing salmon on their heads.

Build a portfolio that stands the test of time. Learn the key steps to long-term success with expert insights.*

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