Jin Rong Shi Bao·2026-01-15 01:40Core Viewpoint - The international gold price has reached a record high of $4,640 per ounce as of January 14, 2026, driven by international turmoil, benefiting upstream mining companies while putting pressure on downstream retail businesses [1]. Upstream Mining Sector - Leading mining companies are expected to see significant profit growth in 2025 due to rising gold prices. For instance, Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining anticipates a net profit of 3 to 3.2 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 70% to 81% [2]. - Chifeng Jilong attributes this growth to an expected gold production of approximately 14.4 tons and a 49% increase in gold sales prices [2]. - Zijin Mining forecasts a net profit of about 51 to 52 billion yuan for 2025, an increase of approximately 59% to 62% compared to 2024, driven by both production increases and price hikes [3]. - Zijin Mining's production figures include around 90 tons of gold, 1.09 million tons of copper, and 437 tons of silver, all showing year-on-year growth [3]. - Other mining companies, such as Zhaojin Mining, reported substantial revenue and profit increases, with Zhaojin achieving a 119.51% year-on-year revenue growth in the first three quarters of 2025 [3]. Downstream Retail Sector - In contrast to the mining sector, downstream retail businesses are facing challenges, with many reporting declining revenues and profits. For example, Lao Feng Xiang's revenue fell by 8.71% to 48 billion yuan, and net profit decreased by 19.05% [4]. - The jewelry segment, particularly, has been adversely affected, with Lao Feng Xiang's jewelry sales dropping by 11.51% [4]. - Zhou Dashing reported a revenue decline of 37.35% to approximately 6.77 billion yuan, although its net profit saw a slight increase of 3.13% [4]. - The pressure on jewelry companies is attributed to the high price elasticity of demand for gold jewelry, leading to reduced sales volumes despite higher nominal prices [4]. Future Outlook for Gold - Investment institutions remain optimistic about gold prices in 2026, with no signs of reversal in the factors driving price increases [5]. - The World Gold Council anticipates that investment demand, particularly through gold ETFs, will continue to be a key driver [6]. - Goldman Sachs notes a structurally strong demand for gold from central banks, alongside cyclical support from potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, which will contribute to rising gold prices [7].