Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the Robotaxi industry growth, raising the Total Addressable Market (TAM) estimates for China by 9% to 35% for the years 2026 to 2035, expecting the market to reach US$14 billion by 2030 and US$61 billion by 2035 [1][11]. Core Insights - The report highlights several factors driving the growth of the Robotaxi industry, including advancements in technology, new riding experiences, support for online ride-hailing mobility, and the emergence of new business models for fleet owners [1]. - The penetration rate of Robotaxis in China is projected to reach 10% by 2030 and 29% by 2035, with fleet size estimates increasing from 474,000 to 535,000 for 2030 and from 1.9 million to 2.3 million for 2035 [11][14]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - The report indicates that Robotaxi operators in China are optimistic about long-term growth, with significant advancements in software and hardware improving safety and user experience [1]. - The report notes that the shift to Robotaxis can alleviate the expected retirement of 4 million human drivers by 2035, providing a solution to fill the gap in the labor market [1]. Financial Projections - The revised TAM for the Robotaxi market in China is expected to grow to US$14 billion in 2030 and US$61 billion in 2035, reflecting increases of 20% and 31% from previous forecasts [11][13]. - The report also details the expected revenue per vehicle in Tier-1 cities, projected to increase to US$32,000 by 2035, up from US$10,000 in 2024 [16][17]. Fleet Size and Penetration - The report raises the fleet size estimates for Robotaxis, projecting 535,000 units by 2030 and 2.3 million by 2035, representing 10% and 29% of the shared mobility fleet, respectively [11][14]. - The report emphasizes the acceleration of commercialization efforts by leading Chinese Robotaxi companies, with significant fleet expansions and partnerships, such as Pony AI's goal of 1,000 vehicles by 2025 and Baidu's plans for large fleets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi [10][11].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating on PDD, indicating favorable risk-reward dynamics due to its non-participation in the food delivery competition and potential growth from new user traffic and general merchandise strength [10]. Core Insights - The report highlights a potential resumption of Nvidia H20 chip supply, which could positively impact China's cloud service providers' capital expenditures starting from Q3 2025, with an expected 44% quarter-over-quarter increase in aggregate capex [1]. - There is a notable increase in generative AI adoption among Chinese enterprises, with over 40% having pilot-tested generative AI tools, up from 8% last year [1]. - The performance gap between US and Chinese AI models is narrowing, with new releases from various internet platforms and AI startups [1]. - The report emphasizes steady progress in monetization of AI applications, with Chinese models achieving scalable annual recurring revenue (ARR) for their AI products [1]. Summary by Sections AI Application Trends - China's top AI applications showed healthy user engagement trends in June, with a 6% month-over-month increase in domestic AIGC application engagement, driven by strong growth in Doubao and DeepSeek [8][10]. - The overall time spent on the top 400 mobile apps increased by 7% year-over-year in June 2025, with significant growth in eCommerce and social engagement [7][10]. Capital Expenditure Forecasts - The report forecasts a drop in combined capex from China CSPs in Q2 2025, followed by gradual improvement in Q3 and Q4 2025, driven by the resumption of Nvidia shipments and domestic chip ramp-up [15]. Monetization and Revenue Growth - The ARR of various AI operations in Chinese companies shows significant figures, with Kuaishou's Kling AI expected to reach over US$400 million in total annual revenue by 2027 [20][21]. - The report notes that subscription-based productivity tools and advertising-based AI search engines are contributing to the monetization of AI applications [1]. Competitive Landscape - Competition in video-generative models is intensifying, with Kuaishou's Kling AI projected to achieve substantial revenue growth, alongside other models from ByteDance and Alibaba [1][6]. - The report highlights the increasing capabilities of Chinese AI models, which are closing the performance gap with US counterparts [33][34].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a Neutral rating on Pop Mart (9992.HK) with a 12-month target price of HK$260.00, reflecting a downside of 1.2% from the current price of HK$263.20 [10][19]. Core Insights - Pop Mart's 1H25 profit alert indicates a sales increase of no less than 200% year-on-year, translating to at least Rmb13.7 billion in revenue, surpassing Goldman Sachs' estimate of 187% growth [1][15]. - The group profit is expected to rise by no less than 350% year-on-year, suggesting a net profit of Rmb4.5 billion in 1H25, which is above the previous estimate of Rmb3.8 billion [1][15]. - The robust performance is attributed to strong IP popularity, particularly the Labubu IP, and significant growth in both mainland China and overseas markets [2][3]. Financial Forecasts - Revenue projections for Pop Mart have been revised upwards for 2025-2027, with expected revenues of Rmb32.8 billion in 2025, Rmb42.3 billion in 2026, and Rmb49.1 billion in 2027, reflecting growth rates of 152%, 29%, and 16% respectively [5][16]. - The adjusted net profit for 2025 is forecasted at Rmb10 billion, indicating a growth of 213% [16]. - The report highlights a significant EBITDA growth forecast, with expected figures of Rmb14.8 billion in 2025 and Rmb22.7 billion in 2027 [5][10]. Market Performance - Pop Mart's stock has shown substantial price performance, with an absolute increase of 588.1% over the past 12 months [11]. - The company has a market capitalization of HK$350.6 billion and an enterprise value of HK$336.7 billion [5]. Growth and Margins - The report indicates a notable expansion in net profit margin (NPM), expected to reach around 30% in 1H25, compared to 20% in 1H24 and 26% in 2H24 [1][3]. - The EBITDA margin is projected to improve to 45.1% in 2025, with continued growth in subsequent years [10][13]. Strategic Outlook - The report emphasizes the importance of extending IP popularity beyond Labubu and expanding the product category to maintain growth momentum [3][20]. - The potential for further customer base expansion is highlighted as a key driver for future earnings growth [3][20].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - June core CPI rose 0.23% month-over-month, slightly below consensus expectations, with a year-over-year rate of 2.93% [1][2] - Lower hotel prices and used car prices negatively impacted the core CPI, while increases in household furnishings, recreation commodities, apparel, and auto parts prices provided a positive boost [1][2] - The Empire manufacturing index increased significantly in July, indicating stronger-than-expected growth in employment, new orders, and shipments [1][6] Summary by Relevant Sections Core CPI Analysis - The month-over-month core CPI increase of 0.23% was below the median forecast of 0.3%, while the year-over-year rate reached 2.93% [2] - Declines in lodging prices (-2.9%), used car prices (-0.7%), and new car prices (-0.3%) weighed on the core CPI [2][4] - Positive contributions came from household furnishings (+1.0%), video and audio prices (+1.1%), and medical care services (+0.6%) [4] PCE Price Index Estimation - The core PCE price index is estimated to have risen 0.29% in June, with a year-over-year rate of +2.75% [1][5] - The headline PCE price index is expected to have increased by 0.32% in June, corresponding to a year-over-year increase of 2.55% [5] Empire Manufacturing Index - The Empire manufacturing index rose by 21.5 points to 5.5 in July, surpassing consensus expectations [6] - Key components such as employment, new orders, and shipments all showed significant increases, indicating robust manufacturing activity [6]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for Hong Kong's IPO market, suggesting potential investment opportunities in newly listed companies and sectors with high demand [2][3]. Core Insights - Hong Kong's IPO market has seen a resurgence with 51 companies listed year-to-date, raising HK$124 billion, compared to 77 listings raising HK$88 billion in 2024 [3][4]. - The increase in IPO activity is attributed to a robust market rally, a slowdown in A-share IPOs, and more accommodating listing rules by HKEX [2][4]. - Cornerstone investors contributed 42% of the capital raised in IPOs, with two-thirds coming from foreign investors, indicating strong international interest [42][43]. - Newly listed companies in 2024/25 have shown significantly higher post-IPO returns compared to previous years, driven by substantial cornerstone investor ownership and growth potential [52][53]. Summary by Sections 1. IPO Market Activity - The resurgence in Hong Kong's IPO market is driven by improved market performance, with HSI and HSTECH gaining 20% and 17% year-to-date [4][26]. - The IPO pipeline remains strong, with over 200 companies in the application process [3][4]. 2. Dual Listings - A-share companies are pursuing dual listings in Hong Kong to access overseas financing and mitigate delisting risks, with regulatory support encouraging this trend [8][10]. - Approximately 80% of US institutional investors in ADRs already have exposure to the Hong Kong market, facilitating smoother transitions for companies [10][12]. 3. Investor Participation - The participation of cornerstone investors has been significant, with their ownership ranging from under 10% to over 80% in recent IPOs [42][43]. - Retail interest in IPOs has reached a multi-year high, reflecting improved risk appetite among investors [47][49]. 4. Post-IPO Performance - Newly listed companies in 2024/25 have delivered an average return of 10% on the first trading day and 41% within the first three months [52][56]. - Companies with cornerstone investor ownership between 30% and 50% tend to outperform, highlighting the importance of investor confidence [53][57]. 5. Spillover Effects - Active IPOs in Hong Kong positively influence A-share market performance, with sectors experiencing new listings generally seeing their peers outperform [63][64]. - The correlation between robust IPO activity and favorable performance in A-share markets suggests a beneficial spillover effect [63][64]. 6. Index Inclusion and Liquidity - New listings that meet specific criteria are eligible for fast-track index inclusion, potentially attracting significant passive investment [66][67]. - Southbound inclusion allows Hong Kong-listed companies to access onshore liquidity, enhancing their market appeal [67][72].

Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for Innolight with an updated 12-month target price (TP) of Rmb182, increased from Rmb160 [1][4]. Core Insights - Innolight's net profit for Q2 reached Rmb2.4 billion, marking a 79% year-over-year increase and a 53% quarter-over-quarter increase, indicating a re-acceleration in growth [1]. - The company anticipates strong demand for its products, particularly in the 800G and 1.6T segments, driven by cloud service providers and AI applications [2][11]. - Margin expansion is attributed to a better product mix and improved yields, contributing significantly to the strong Q2 performance [3][10]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - Revenue estimates for 2025E-2027E have been revised up by 6% to 12%, and net profit estimates have been increased by 12% to 22% following better-than-expected Q2 results [4][8]. - The gross margin is projected to improve to 40.1% in 2025E, up from a previous estimate of 38.5% [8]. Demand Outlook - The company has reaffirmed a strong demand outlook from US cloud service providers for 800G products heading into the second half of 2025 and 2026, with some customers increasing orders to support AI applications [2][11]. - Innolight plans to expand its production capacity in Thailand to meet the anticipated demand [2]. Margin Improvement - The report highlights that margin improvement is driven by a shift towards higher-margin products such as 800G/1.6T optical transceivers and silicon photonics modules [3][10]. - The company is experiencing better yields, which further supports margin expansion [3]. Competitive Position - Innolight is positioned as a leading supplier in the optical transceiver market, particularly benefiting from the growth in AI and data center expansions [10][11]. - The company's strong execution in ramping up capacity and developing new products is seen as a key competitive advantage [11][13].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Nvidia (NVDA) and highlights "Buy" ratings for Alibaba (BABA), Tencent (700.HK), and Baidu (BIDU) among cloud service providers, while GDS (GDS/9698.HK) and VNET are also rated positively among data center operators [4][29]. Core Insights - Improved chip availability is expected to enhance the ability of Chinese cloud service platforms (CSPs) to meet AI demand, particularly with Nvidia's new RTX Pro GPU tailored for China [2][4]. - The resumption of Nvidia's AI GPU exports to China is anticipated to alleviate the chip shortage that has hindered capital expenditure (capex) for CSPs and data center operators [2][3]. - There is a potential for sequential capex growth in the second half of 2025 as chip availability improves, despite cautious expectations for hyperscalers' capex and data center order volumes in the second quarter of 2025 [3]. Summary by Sections Market Reactions - The market is expected to respond positively to Nvidia's announcement regarding AI GPU exports, which could lead to increased capex spending by CSPs and improved order visibility for data center operators [2][4]. Company Performance - The report forecasts that Alibaba and Tencent's capex will likely reach a bottom in the second quarter of 2025 and recover sequentially in the latter half of the year [8]. - GDS's 12-month target price has been raised to US$40/HK$39, reflecting the net debt amount and the conversion of convertible bonds [16][17]. Future Developments - Upcoming events include the second quarter results for CSPs and data centers expected in mid-to-late August, updates on US AI chip export rules, and the listing of GDS's C-REIT [4].

On July 14th, Nvidia published a blog post (here) stating that Nvidia has received assurance from the U.S. government that it will provide the company with the required licenses to sell Hopper (H20) GPUs in China, reversing a previous ban. For more context, recall that Nvidia had announced a $4.5bn charge associated with H20 inventory write-downs and purchase obligations, and a $2.5bn revenue impact in its FY1Q'26 CFO commentary (here) as the U.S. government effectively banned the shipment of H20 into China ...

Investment Rating - The investment rating for Baidu.com Inc. (BIDU) is "Buy" with a 12-month price target of $96.00, indicating an upside potential of 11.8% from the current price of $85.87 [10][18][22]. Core Insights - Baidu's partnership with Uber marks a significant step in the global expansion of its Apollo Go autonomous vehicle service, with initial rollouts planned for Asia and the Middle East later this year [1][3]. - The Apollo Go service currently operates in 15 cities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a fleet of 1,000 fully driverless cars and over 11 million completed rides [2][3]. - The valuation of Baidu's Robotaxi business is estimated at $3.9 billion, with expectations for rapid fleet expansion over the next 1-2 years as commercial operations increase [5][10]. Summary by Sections Global Expansion - Baidu is committed to expanding its autonomous vehicle service internationally, with recent expansions into Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East, and plans to enter Europe by the end of the year [4][3]. - The user experience, safety, and adaptability of Robotaxi services to different regulatory environments are critical factors for successful overseas expansion [4]. Financial Projections - Revenue projections for the Apollo Self-Driving segment show significant growth, with expected gross transaction values increasing from RMB 161 million in 2024 to RMB 3.080 billion by 2027, reflecting a year-on-year growth rate of 350% in 2024 [9]. - The number of trips is projected to rise from 6.6 million in 2024 to 136.9 million by 2027, with the fleet size expected to grow from 1,000 vehicles to 15,000 during the same period [9]. Valuation Metrics - The valuation analysis indicates a strong upside risk if Baidu successfully accelerates its global market expansion, with a focus on improving unit economics in favorable pricing areas [5][10]. - The SOTP (Sum of the Parts) valuation reflects a significant contribution from the Robotaxi segment, which is projected to enhance Baidu's overall market valuation [10].

Investment Rating - The report indicates a modest property easing expectation for the second half of the year and beyond, aligning with incremental policy support rather than a large-scale stimulus similar to the 2015-2018 period [1][2][8]. Core Insights - The Central Urban Work Conference (CUWC) outlined key policy priorities for urban development, including urbanization facilitation, innovation encouragement, urban village renovation, a new real estate development model, improved urban infrastructure, and a green transition [1][2]. - The report suggests that the previous cash-backed shantytown redevelopment program is unlikely to be repeated due to reduced fiscal easing space, recognition of past housing boom costs, and persistently low urban housing demand [3][8]. Summary by Sections Policy Priorities - The CUWC emphasized urbanization, innovation, urban village renovation, a new real estate model, enhanced urban infrastructure, and green transition as critical areas for future development [1][2]. Property Market Outlook - The report anticipates modest property easing, with expectations for further mortgage rate reductions and targeted policy support for urban infrastructure and housing inventory purchases [8]. - It is projected that urban housing demand may remain below 5 million units per year for the foreseeable future, influenced by demographic trends and previous market speculation [7][14]. Economic Context - With H1 real GDP growth averaging 5.3% year-on-year, there is no immediate need for broad-based stimulus, leading to expectations of targeted easing measures to address property market downturns and labor market pressures [8].