Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the metal, non-metal, and mining industry [9]. Core Insights - The report highlights that December interest rate cut expectations have weakened, leading to fluctuations in copper and aluminum prices. The overall industrial metal prices have shown volatility, with domestic prices falling except for aluminum, while external prices have risen for all but copper and nickel. This is attributed to the realization of benefits from the October interest rate cut and US-China talks, alongside hawkish comments from the Federal Reserve that have dampened December rate cut expectations [1][4]. Summary by Sections Precious Metals - The report indicates that gold prices are stabilizing as the interest rate cut approaches, with recession trading remaining the core driver for gold price recovery. The report emphasizes that the current environment suggests gold prices are more likely to fluctuate rather than indicate a trend reversal. The focus is on the potential impact of domestic gold trading tax policies, which may increase the cost of physical gold holdings while stabilizing reserves [3][4]. Industrial Metals - The report expresses a long-term positive outlook for copper and aluminum. It notes that while short-term interest rate cut expectations have decreased, the medium to long-term economic stabilization outlook remains unchanged. The report highlights that supply adjustments in copper and aluminum since late September warrant attention, particularly the potential for overseas copper companies to reduce supply at year-end [5][6]. Energy and Minor Metals - The lithium sector is identified as entering a pivotal year, with demand for lithium expected to grow significantly by 2026 due to stable domestic power demand and the acceleration of solid-state battery industrialization. The report also discusses the strategic importance of rare earths and tungsten, noting that the long-term demand for rare earth materials is expected to recover due to traditional demand bottoming out and the acceleration of applications in humanoid robotics [6][7]. Market Performance - The report notes that the metal materials and mining sector has outperformed the broader market, with a 2.64% increase compared to a 0.11% rise in the Shanghai Composite Index. The energy metals sector has shown particularly strong performance, with a 4.99% increase [15][19].