流动性趋紧，警惕白银短期回落风险

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core View of the Report - The ongoing Iran-US conflict has led to a surge in global energy prices, triggering strong stagflation expectations in the market. The Fed's rate - cut rhythm has been significantly adjusted, and the precious metals sector is under pressure until the conflict is resolved. Stagflation expectations have also increased risks in the US stock and credit markets, leading to tighter liquidity. Silver is at a higher risk of a short - term decline due to its high commodity attribute and weak industrial demand [1][2]. - In the long - term, the core logic of global order reconstruction, weakening US dollar credit, and central banks' continuous gold purchases remains unchanged, so the long - term allocation value of precious metals still exists. However, in the short - term, attention should be paid to geopolitical conflict signals, market liquidity changes, and the Fed's policy stance [1]. 3. Summary by Directory 3.1. Iran - US Conflict Triggers Global Stagflation Expectations - The duration of the Iran - US conflict has exceeded initial market expectations, spreading from short - term energy supply shocks to corporate profits, consumer confidence, and global inflation expectations, becoming the core trigger for stagflation expectations [3]. - The conflict has caused a substantial impact on the energy supply. As an important oil - producing country, Iran's conflict with the US and the transportation risks in the Strait of Hormuz have led to concerns about oil supply, and production cuts by major oil - producing countries have further widened the supply gap, driving up international oil prices [3]. - Historical data shows that a 10% increase in oil prices will push up the US CPI by about 0.25% and the European CPI by about 0.3% within 3 - 12 months, while causing the US GDP to decline by 0.3% and the European GDP to decline by 0.4% cumulatively, resulting in a stagflation combination of "high inflation + low growth" [3]. - The US is experiencing sticky inflation, with the core PCE year - on - year rising to 3.06%, higher than the expected 2.9%, and the Q4 GDP being revised down from 1.4% to 0.7%. The conflict - driven energy price increase has further intensified stagflation expectations [4][6]. 3.2. Stagflation Expectations Lead to Adjustment of Fed's Rate - cut Rhythm - Due to stagflation expectations, the market has significantly revised the Fed's 2026 monetary policy path. Rate - cut expectations have cooled significantly, and high interest rates have become the consensus, which has put short - term pressure on the precious metals sector [7]. - As of March 18, 2026, the probability that the Fed will maintain the 350 - 375bp interest rate at the March meeting is 99.1%. The probability of rate cuts in June and July is decreasing, and the expected number of rate cuts for the year has shrunk from 3 to 1 or even none [7]. - The Fed is in a policy dilemma. Raising interest rates can control inflation but will suppress economic growth, while cutting rates can boost the economy but will lead to higher inflation. Therefore, the Fed has chosen to pause rate cuts and maintain high interest rates [11]. - The short - term pricing of gold and silver is mainly based on the real interest rate. Although rising inflation expectations suppress real interest rates to some extent, high nominal interest rates and the disappointment of rate - cut expectations have weakened the financial attribute support of precious metals. Coupled with the rising US dollar index, the precious metals sector is under pressure [12]. 3.3. Risks in US Stocks and Credit Markets Intensify Precious Metals Volatility - The combination of stagflation expectations and high Fed interest rates has increased the endogenous risks in the US financial market, especially in the US stock and private credit markets. The risk of tighter market liquidity has risen, which is a major factor suppressing the precious metals sector, and this impact is more significant on silver [13]. - Multiple risk factors, such as the escalation of the Iran - US conflict, the redemption wave in the US private credit market, and the high valuation of the AI sector, have increased the potential probability of a liquidity shock. If any risk materializes, institutions will sell assets [13][15]. - High interest rates have put pressure on the valuation of US stocks, and corporate profits have been revised down due to stagflation expectations, leading to increased market volatility. The US private credit market faces higher default risks due to high financing costs, and the redemption wave has further led to credit contraction, causing a risk resonance and tighter market liquidity [15]. - Gold is a global core safe - haven asset. Although it may be sold off at the beginning of a liquidity crunch, the safe - haven demand will drive up its price later. Silver has a higher proportion of commodity attributes, and its demand is closely related to global industrial economic growth. Under stagflation expectations, weak industrial demand and asset selling due to tighter liquidity will put double pressure on silver, making its short - term decline probability higher than that of gold [17]. - Since 2000, there have been three times when Brent crude oil reached $120, and each time it significantly suppressed precious metal prices. If the Iran - US conflict deepens and oil prices remain high, the precious metals sector may continue to be under pressure [17]. 3.4. Short - term Trend Judgment and Key Concerns of the Precious Metals Sector 3.4.1. Overall Trend Judgment - In the long - term, the long - term allocation value of precious metals remains unchanged due to global order reconstruction, weakening US dollar credit, central banks' continuous gold purchases, and rising long - term inflation expectations [20]. - In the short - term, gold is mainly under pressure with wide - range volatile fluctuations. The support levels are $5000/4800 per ounce. Its safe - haven attribute and long - term allocation value still exist, and if a liquidity shock occurs, the price will quickly recover [20][22]. - Silver is at a high risk of a short - term decline due to weak industrial demand and asset selling under tighter liquidity. The key support levels are $80/72 per ounce, and the probability of breaking through these levels will increase if market liquidity tightens further [22]. - The precious metals sector will remain under pressure until the Iran - US conflict is resolved, stagflation expectations are alleviated, and the Fed's rate - cut rhythm is revised. The fluctuation range will widen with geopolitical news and liquidity changes [22]. 3.4.2. Key Influencing Factors for Future Trends - Geopolitical dimension: The degree of deepening and settlement signals of the Iran - US conflict, the energy transportation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, and whether the conflict triggers a chain reaction in the geopolitical pattern of other regions [23]. - Inflation and policy dimension: The continuous trend of international energy prices (crude oil, natural gas), changes in US inflation data such as core PCE and CPI, and the Fed's policy stance at the interest - rate meeting, especially whether there are signals of rate - cut rhythm revision [23]. - Market liquidity dimension: The redemption situation in the US private credit market, the fluctuation range and capital flow of US stocks, and whether the Fed takes measures to release liquidity to prevent liquidity resonance caused by multiple risks [23]. - Volatility dimension: The volatility of precious metals is at a historical high. The gold ETF volatility index (GVZ) is 30.56, and the at - the - money implied volatility of Shanghai gold and silver futures is above the 75th percentile. High volatility will intensify price fluctuations, and short - term large - scale abnormal movements should be watched out for [23]. 3.5. Operation Suggestions - Conservative investors can consider selling call options with a strike price above 25,000 at high prices. Based on a 20% futures margin, the current annualized margin yield of the AG2605 - C - 25000 contract is about 180%, and that of the AG2605 - C - 30000 contract is about 62%. Investors can choose appropriate contracts according to their risk preferences [1][26]. - On the basis of the above method, investors can also consider buying a small number of put options to obtain additional income. Since the winning probability of option buyers is naturally low, it is recommended that the premium expenditure does not exceed the premium income of option sellers [1][26].