国信证券(香港)宏观周报-20250804

Economic Overview - The US and EU, South Korea, Cambodia, and Thailand reached trade agreements, with the lowest reciprocal tariff rate maintained at 10%[9] - The Federal Reserve maintained the benchmark interest rate at 4.25%-4.50%, showing caution towards rate cuts[10] - Japan's central bank kept its benchmark rate at 0.5%, aligning with market expectations, while raising inflation and GDP forecasts for FY2025[10] Market Performance - Major US stock indices experienced a decline, with the S&P 500 down 2.36% and the Nasdaq down 2.17% over the week[40] - The US 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.22%, while the Chinese 10-year yield decreased to 1.71%[39] - The US dollar index rose by 1% to 98.69, indicating a strengthening of the dollar against other currencies[39] Economic Data Insights - The US added 73,000 non-farm jobs in July, below the expected 104,000, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.2%[24] - The US Q2 GDP grew at an annualized rate of 3%, surpassing the expected 2.5%[25] - The core PCE price index for Q2 increased by 2.5%, down from 3.5% but above the expected 2.3%[25] Commodity and Currency Trends - Gold prices surged above $3,400 per ounce, while Brent crude oil rose by 2.75% to $69.5 per barrel[39] - The MBA purchase index fell by approximately 10 basis points to 155.6, indicating a decline in mortgage applications[23] - The RedBook retail index showed a slight year-on-year increase, reflecting consumer spending resilience[12] Investment Recommendations - Short-term asset allocation should focus on defensive sectors due to market volatility and economic uncertainty[45] - Bonds are recommended for short-term positioning, with a focus on high-yielding, shorter-duration securities[46] - Gold remains a favorable long-term investment, supported by ongoing geopolitical tensions and central bank policies[46]