Core Viewpoint - The U.S. steel industry is currently experiencing a tight supply situation driven by tariff policies, leading to a short-term maintenance of high steel prices and a potential long-term upward shift in price levels [1][3]. Supply - The U.S. is the only major market globally with a tight supply and high reliance on imports, with an estimated net import volume accounting for about 20% of consumption in 2024, making it the largest net importer [3][21]. - The U.S. steel supply is characterized by a high proportion of electric arc furnace (EAF) steel, with around 70% of crude steel production coming from EAFs, significantly higher than the global average of 30% [3][5]. - Approximately 7 million tons of crude steel capacity is expected to be released in the medium term, primarily from EAFs, which may partially replace imports and maintain a healthy and flexible supply [3][19]. Demand - The automotive sector represents a significant portion of U.S. steel demand, with an estimated consumption of 89 million tons in 2024, where construction, automotive, and machinery account for approximately 44%, 28%, and 9% respectively [4][33]. - Policy-driven improvements in demand are anticipated, particularly in non-residential construction and automotive sectors, due to tariffs on imported vehicles and increased domestic production [4][39]. Price - U.S. hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices have increased by 35% since the beginning of 2025, reaching $900 per ton, with expectations of maintaining high prices in the short term due to tariff impacts [1][42]. - The price of U.S. steel is influenced by trade protection policies, with a potential for upward movement in the long term as EAF production increases and the supply of quality scrap steel becomes a critical resource [47][48]. Industry Dynamics - The U.S. steel industry has undergone significant consolidation, with the top four companies controlling over 80% of the market share, a trend that has intensified since 2000 [5][15]. - The recent acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel is expected to have profound implications for all stakeholders involved, including potential improvements in competitiveness and market share for U.S. Steel [48][49].

Core Viewpoint - The 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) successfully showcased the CICC's self-developed digital investment research platform and large model applications, highlighting the company's leadership in the financial technology sector and its commitment to intelligent investment research innovation [1][6]. Group 1: Digital Investment Research Platform - The CICC's digital investment research platform, "CICC Insight," was temporarily opened for user registration during the conference, allowing users to access AI-driven investment research services [3]. - The platform integrates CICC's research expertise with advanced AI technologies, offering three core capabilities: data retrieval from vast financial databases, AI-driven search for insights from various reports, and intelligent meeting minutes generation from uploaded audio/files [5][6]. Group 2: Engagement and Impact - The CICC Insight platform attracted significant attention from various stakeholders, including financial institutions, technology companies, and investors, who experienced its capabilities in data retrieval, AI search, and meeting summaries firsthand [6]. - The investment and financing development forum, hosted by CICC during the WAIC, was supported by the digital platform, drawing numerous online investors to participate [8]. Group 3: Future Directions - CICC aims to continuously explore the cutting-edge applications of AI large models in investment research, striving to establish a leading international paradigm for intelligent investment research and enhance the effectiveness of investment services for the real economy [9].

Macroeconomic Overview - Vietnam's GDP growth in Q2 2025 reached 8.0%, the highest increase since 2023, outperforming other Southeast Asian economies [2][7] - For the first half of 2025, GDP growth was 7.5%, compared to 6.6% in the same period of 2024, marking the strongest performance since 2011 [2][7] - Industrial GDP grew by 8.3% and service GDP by 8.1% in the first half of 2025, driven by stable domestic demand [2][7] - The Prime Minister raised the GDP growth target for 2025 from 8.0% to a range of 8.3% to 8.5% [2][9] Trade Dynamics - A tariff agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam reduced the baseline tariff on Vietnamese exports from 46% to 20%, enhancing Vietnam's competitive position [3][22] - Vietnam's existing multinational enterprises are less incentivized to relocate, making the current trade environment favorable for investment [3][23] - Vietnam's tariff advantages compared to other manufacturing countries may reduce the economic drive for companies to shift production to lower-cost nations [23] Policy Reforms - Vietnam is undergoing significant reforms, focusing on four key resolutions aimed at enhancing governance and economic efficiency [4][31] - Recent reforms include a two-tier administrative structure and a series of important legislative measures to improve the business environment [9][10] Stock Market Performance - The VN Index reached 1,474 points on July 15, 2025, the highest level since April 2022, with a year-to-date increase of 14.9% [5][34] - Foreign investment has shifted from net selling to net buying, with a net inflow of $339 million in July [5][34] - Key sectors expected to benefit from market trends include consumer markets, industrial and logistics, banking, commercial real estate, and brokerage stocks [5][38] Sectoral Insights - Consumer market leaders may benefit from government crackdowns on counterfeit goods, enhancing brand preference [38] - The industrial sector is expected to gain momentum due to reduced pressure from multinational companies relocating production [38] - Banking and commercial real estate sectors are poised for growth due to ongoing credit expansion and rising demand for office and retail spaces [38] - Brokerage firms may see increased profitability as retail investor participation rises, with nearly 1 million new accounts opened in the first half of 2025 [39]

Core Viewpoint - The draft amendment to the Price Law aims to regulate market pricing order and provide legal grounds for addressing "involutionary" competition, particularly through the establishment of standards for identifying predatory pricing and enhancing cost supervision [1][2][3]. Group 1: Regulating Market Pricing Order - The amendment emphasizes the need to improve standards for identifying predatory pricing, stating that operators must not engage in below-cost pricing to eliminate competitors or monopolize the market [2][3]. - Cost supervision is highlighted as a key focus, with legal responsibilities outlined for operators who refuse or provide false information during cost audits [2][3]. - The macro root cause of "involutionary" competition is identified as strong supply and weak demand, with the need for market-oriented and legal approaches to regulation [3][4]. Group 2: Legal Basis for Addressing Price Wars - The draft provides a legal foundation for preventing below-cost sales, which is crucial for addressing the issue of "involution" in various industries, particularly those with high marketization and significant employment impact [3][4]. - Recent legal regulations, such as the implementation of the Fair Competition Review Regulations and the revision of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, support the framework for combating predatory pricing [3][4][5][6][7]. Group 3: Government Pricing Mechanism - The draft proposes a shift from fixed pricing levels to a more flexible pricing mechanism, allowing for cost-linked adjustments and periodic reviews [5]. - Enhanced price cost supervision is mandated, requiring verification of the authenticity of operators' costs and the elimination of unreasonable expenses [5]. - The government pricing mechanism is expected to better reflect market supply and demand, particularly in public utilities and natural monopoly sectors [5].

Core Viewpoint - The second quarter reports of 66 REITs indicate a mixed performance across different sectors, with varying levels of operational pressure and resilience observed in different segments [3][4]. Group 1: Sector Performance Overview - Industrial parks are still under pressure due to new supply and demand contraction, with a need for time to reach a new balance in rental levels and occupancy rates. The revenue for this sector decreased by 1.9% quarter-on-quarter [3][5]. - Logistics and warehousing projects maintained a high occupancy rate of 94.3% in Q2, showing better resilience than expected despite rental pressures, with an average rental decline of only 2% [3][10]. - Affordable rental housing exhibited the least revenue fluctuation in Q2, maintaining stable occupancy and rental levels, while national rental prices continued to decline [3][4]. - Traditional retail faced a 5.5% quarter-on-quarter revenue decline due to seasonal factors, necessitating cautious long-term growth assessments [3][4]. - Highway projects showed significant performance differentiation, with freight traffic performing better than passenger traffic [3][4]. - The municipal environmental sector remained stable, with wastewater treatment fundamentals holding steady and seasonal characteristics in heating demand becoming evident [3][4]. - Energy projects showed improvement in wind resources, particularly offshore wind, outperforming gas and hydropower [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Metrics and Market Trends - The total distributable amount for REITs decreased both year-on-year (down 3.1%) and quarter-on-quarter (down 5.4%), reflecting operational changes across projects [4]. - The market valuation has adjusted, presenting opportunities for quality project allocations, focusing on stable cash flow and potential turnaround opportunities [4][5]. - The logistics sector is expected to see significant new supply in the second half of 2025, with approximately 2.5 million square meters expected, primarily in key urban areas [10][11]. - Demand in the logistics sector is primarily driven by e-commerce and third-party logistics, with significant contributions from seasonal events like the 618 shopping festival [10][11]. Group 3: Regional Insights - In Beijing, the business park market saw no new projects in Q2, with a net absorption of 95,000 square meters, indicating a recovery in demand [6]. - Shanghai's business park market experienced a moderate recovery in demand, particularly from the TMT sector, which accounted for 41% of the total demand [7]. - The vacancy rate in key urban areas varies significantly, with the Pearl River Delta showing a low vacancy rate of 6.15%, while the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has a higher rate of 27.1% [11][15].

Core Viewpoint - The coal supply is expected to be released more rationally in the second half of the year, combined with marginal improvements in demand, leading to an overall rebound in coal prices, which will support industry profit recovery [1][4]. Group 1: Industry Profitability and Price Trends - The sustainability of profitability in the coal industry is crucial, with companies having relatively good profit capabilities, lighter balance sheets, and attractive dividends amid an "asset shortage" [4][6]. - The domestic electricity demand is projected to grow steadily, with a forecasted year-on-year growth rate of 5-6% by 2025, which will support coal demand recovery in the second half of the year [4][26]. - The coal price is expected to rebound after the summer peak season, with the low point in June likely being the lowest for the year [4][48]. Group 2: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The coal production in the first half of the year reached a historical high, with a year-on-year increase of 5.4% to 2.405 billion tons, primarily driven by high production levels in Shanxi [41][43]. - The government is taking measures to ensure rational coal supply release, which is expected to alleviate the "quantity compensating price" situation and enhance safety in coal production [42][48]. - The coal import volume decreased by 11.1% year-on-year in the first half of the year, primarily due to inventory pressures and price discrepancies between domestic and international markets [45][46]. Group 3: Coking Coal Market Outlook - Coking coal prices are expected to rebound, but the sustainability of this rebound depends on whether production cuts can be realized [5][54]. - The domestic coking coal production is nearing its peak, with future supply largely dependent on imports from Mongolia, which may limit the price rebound potential [55][56]. - The market anticipates that the "anti-involution" policy will catalyze a short-term rebound in coking coal prices, contingent on the pace and effectiveness of policy implementation [54][56].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent adjustments in the pricing interest rates for life insurance products, highlighting the implications for industry profitability, growth, and asset allocation [1][2][3][4]. Pricing Rate Adjustments - The predetermined interest rate for ordinary life insurance products is set to decrease from 2.5% to 2.0%, while the guaranteed interest rate for participating insurance will drop from 2% to 1.75%, and for universal insurance from 1.5% to 1.0% [2]. - Major companies like Ping An, China Life, and Taikang Life will switch to the new pricing rates after August 31 [2]. Impact on Industry Profitability - The reduction in predetermined interest rates is expected to lower the rigid repayment costs for new business, improving long-term interest rate risk for insurance companies [2]. - There are concerns that the short-term floating costs for participating insurance may increase, but the overall long-term profitability is anticipated to improve significantly [2]. Impact on Industry Growth - Short-term sales may experience a "stop-and-go" phenomenon due to channel dynamics, but the attractiveness of 2.5% priced products is diminishing [3]. - Long-term growth may face challenges for traditional insurance due to lower actual returns and liquidity, while participating insurance could see growth opportunities as floating returns may exceed those of traditional insurance [3]. Impact on Asset Allocation - Participating insurance has lower rigid cost liabilities and shorter effective durations compared to traditional insurance, allowing for more flexibility in asset allocation [3]. - Changes in asset allocation will likely occur gradually in response to shifts in liability structures [3]. Company-Specific Impacts - Companies that have already transitioned to participating insurance are expected to adapt more quickly to these changes, benefiting from established sales channels and lower liability bases [4]. - The proactive shift towards participating insurance reflects a long-term operational strategy that is crucial for creating sustained value in the life insurance sector [4].

Core Viewpoint - The commencement of the Yarlung Tsangpo River downstream hydropower project, with a total investment of 1.2 trillion yuan and an installed capacity of over 60 million kilowatts, is expected to significantly boost related infrastructure investments and reshape market expectations in the context of a declining real estate cycle and slowing traditional infrastructure investments [1][3]. Economic Impact - The Yarlung Tsangpo hydropower project is anticipated to facilitate a transformation in China's energy structure, providing approximately 300 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting the country's "dual carbon" goals [3][4]. - The project is expected to enhance fiscal revenue and employment in Tibet, potentially generating over 10 billion yuan in annual fiscal income for the region and creating numerous job opportunities during construction and maintenance [4]. - The total investment of 1.2 trillion yuan, with an average annual investment of about 80 billion yuan over an estimated 15-year construction period, could contribute approximately 144 billion yuan to GDP annually, representing about 0.1% of the national GDP [4]. Beneficiary Sectors - The project is likely to drive demand growth in several sectors, including: - **Basic Chemicals**: Anticipated annual demand for industrial explosives may increase from 50,000 tons to 100,000-150,000 tons, benefiting leading companies in the region [6]. - **Construction Materials**: Expected annual demand for cement could rise by 1-2 million tons, positively impacting leading cement companies in Tibet [6]. - **Power Equipment and New Energy**: The project is expected to create long-term growth opportunities for manufacturers of hydropower equipment and high-voltage direct current transmission technologies [7]. - **Machinery and Equipment**: The construction will require various large machinery, including excavators and concrete machinery, which will stimulate demand in the engineering machinery sector [8]. Market Outlook - The project is expected to catalyze short-term market activity, enhancing growth expectations for related companies, while long-term focus should remain on project progress and its economic impact [9]. - Initial phases of the project may benefit upstream sectors such as explosives and construction materials, while later stages will favor water conservancy equipment and downstream applications as the project matures [9].

Core Viewpoint - The report highlights a mixed performance across various sectors in Q2 2025, with technology showing strong potential for exceeding expectations, while consumer sectors are experiencing deterioration. The financial sector is performing well, and industrial sectors are seeing varied results based on sub-segments [2][5][6]. Group 1: Technology Sector - The technology sector is expected to outperform in Q2 2025, driven by strong AI infrastructure demand and IT spending. The communication and software segments are likely to see significant growth, while the consumer electronics segment is expected to meet company guidance due to seasonal factors [3][8][13]. - AI infrastructure is projected to be a key growth driver, with companies in this space likely to revise their revenue guidance upwards for 2025 [8][13]. Group 2: Industrial Sector - The industrial sector is experiencing overall recovery, with the MSCI global capital goods index up 21% year-to-date. However, performance is mixed across sub-segments, with discrete automation showing improvement while process automation faces pressure due to high base effects [4][17]. - The U.S. power equipment demand remains strong, but major suppliers may not exceed expectations due to reliance on past order volumes [23][24]. Group 3: Consumer Sector - The consumer sector is facing challenges, particularly in discretionary spending, with notable declines in sectors like luxury goods and apparel. Essential goods are showing more resilience, but overall momentum remains weak [5][41][44]. - The automotive sector is seeing mixed results, with traditional automakers performing well in the U.S. and Europe, while electric vehicle penetration is under pressure [32][33]. Group 4: Financial Sector - The financial sector in the U.S. has recorded positive absolute and relative returns in the first half of 2025, driven by earnings improvements and regulatory easing. The outlook for the second half remains optimistic [6][70]. Group 5: Mining and Commodities - The mining sector, particularly gold and copper, has shown strong performance in Q2 2025, with gold prices reaching historical highs. The agricultural sector is stable, while the chemical sector has downgraded its outlook due to currency headwinds and weak demand [7][74][91]. Group 6: Regional Performance - U.S. companies are benefiting from a weaker dollar, while European firms face headwinds from currency fluctuations. Japanese companies are under pressure from weak domestic growth [2][5].

Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong stock market has been active since 2025, outperforming major global markets, particularly the A-share market, driven by significant inflows of southbound capital and an increase in IPO activities [1][2][3]. IPO Market Status - The Hong Kong IPO market is currently the largest globally, with a fundraising total of HKD 1,273.6 billion, marking a new high since 2021 and nearing the total of the past two years combined [4][12]. - As of July 25, 2025, 52 companies have listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, approaching 75% of the total listings in 2024 and 2023 [3][4]. - A notable trend is the increasing number of A-share companies choosing to list in Hong Kong, with 13 leading A-share firms already listed and over 50 more planning to do so [3][4]. Market Dynamics - The influx of southbound capital has been significant, with over HKD 820 billion entering the Hong Kong market in just seven months, surpassing the total for the entire year of 2024 [15][24]. - The average daily trading volume in the Hong Kong main board has reached HKD 2,423 billion, significantly higher than the averages of HKD 1,318 billion in 2024 and HKD 1,049 billion in 2023 [9][24]. Future Outlook - The increase in IPOs and placements is expected to raise liquidity demands, with an estimated total of HKD 3,000 billion in IPOs and placements anticipated for the second half of the year [20][21]. - The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has implemented several reforms since 2018 to attract more companies, including allowing unprofitable biotech firms to list and easing restrictions on dual-class shares [22][24]. Investment Strategy - The performance of IPOs varies significantly, with a notable difference in returns based on company size and market conditions. Smaller companies tend to perform well initially but may underperform over time [26][36]. - The optimal strategy for investors is to sell within three trading days post-IPO for the highest potential returns, while holding for six months may not yield the best outcomes due to market pressures [42][43].