Group 1 - Morgan Stanley reports that China has canceled the VAT deduction policy for gold retail, leading to an additional 7% VAT on gold raw material procurement [1] - Numerous brands will increase the price of gold jewelry by approximately 5% based on weight starting November 3 [1] - The report observes a potential shift in demand trends, including a transition from gold bars to jewelry, from weight-based pricing to fixed pricing, from small operators to leading brands, and from mainland China to Hong Kong and Macau [1] Group 2 - The market is expected to undergo consolidation, with small retailers facing more store closures and brands with weak franchise management at risk [1] - Among the companies covered, Lao Feng Xiang and Zhou Da Sheng are expected to be impacted the most, followed by Zhou Da Fu; Lao Pu Gold is in a relatively favorable position [1] - In related events, gold jewelry stocks such as Lao Pu Gold, Zhou Da Fu, and Zhou Sheng Sheng experienced significant declines following the new tax policy announcement [2]