Trade Policies and Economic Impact - The U.S. is imposing approximately 100% tariffs on chips and semiconductors, excluding companies that build factories in the U.S. [1] - The U.S. plans to impose tariffs on imported drugs, with rates potentially reaching 250%, indicating a shift in trade tensions towards high-tech and pharmaceutical sectors [1] Market Performance and Economic Indicators - The U.S. stock market has shown resilience, with the Nasdaq up 10% and the S&P 500 up 7.79% as of August 8 [4] - However, weak employment data revealed only 73,000 new jobs added in July, significantly below the expected 100,000, raising concerns about economic health [4] - The manufacturing sector is experiencing a downturn, with the PMI dropping to 49.8 in July, indicating contraction [5] Investor Sentiment and Market Predictions - Major investment firms are issuing warnings about potential market corrections, with estimates suggesting a possible decline of 10% to 15% in the S&P 500 [6] - The "Buffett Indicator" has reached 212%, indicating high valuation risks compared to historical standards [6] - Seasonal trends suggest August and September are typically weak months for the S&P 500, with an average decline of 0.7% [7] Gold Market Dynamics - Investor expectations of economic weakness are driving up gold prices, with predictions for gold to rise to $3,500 per ounce [10] - The World Gold Council reported a 3% year-on-year increase in global gold demand, reaching 1,249 tons in Q2 2025 [11] Asian Market Reactions - India faces significant impacts from U.S. tariffs, with potential total tariffs reaching 50%, affecting approximately $8 billion in exports [13] - Japan's situation is more favorable due to a trade agreement limiting tariffs to 15%, leading to positive adjustments in market forecasts [14] - South Korea's market has seen a dramatic turnaround, with the KOSPI index up over 33% this year, despite recent tax policy changes causing market volatility [15][16] Chinese Market Outlook - China's economy showed resilience with a 5.3% GDP growth, prompting international institutions to raise growth forecasts [17] - As of August 8, the Hang Seng Index has risen 23.85%, and foreign investment in Chinese assets has significantly increased [18] - Goldman Sachs has raised its target for the MSCI China Index from 85 to 90, reflecting growing investor interest in Chinese stocks [18][20]
全球市场后续“脚本”来了