HUAXI Securities·2026-03-22 10:45Investment Rating - The industry rating is "Recommended" [4] Core Views - The report highlights that the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, combined with high inflation expectations and increased demand for safe-haven assets, is suppressing metal prices [1][5] - Precious metals are under short-term pressure due to concerns about stagflation in the US economy, with gold and silver prices experiencing significant declines [1][3] - The geopolitical tensions are expected to prolong the current economic challenges, making it difficult for the Federal Reserve to resume interest rate cuts in the near term [3][5] Summary by Sections Precious Metals - COMEX gold fell by 10.57% to $4,492.00 per ounce, while COMEX silver dropped by 15.92% to $67.81 per ounce [1][33] - The SPDR gold ETF holdings decreased by 468,564.75 troy ounces, and SLV silver ETF holdings fell by 6,792,686.30 ounces [1] - The gold-silver ratio increased by 6.35% to 66.24, indicating a shift in market dynamics [1] Base Metals - Base metals are facing downward pressure due to expectations of interest rate cuts being suppressed, with copper prices down 7.07% to $11,834.50 per ton on the LME [8][9] - The report notes that the geopolitical situation in the Middle East is causing significant disruptions in energy supply chains, which could further impact metal prices [10][12] - The supply side remains tight, with ongoing strikes and production disruptions expected to continue into 2026 [12][28] Small Metals - The report indicates that small metals like molybdenum are experiencing stable prices due to strong demand from the military and high-tech sectors, despite some downward pressure from the overall market [20][21] - The demand for vanadium is expected to surge due to the growth of vanadium battery applications, driven by energy storage needs [22][24] Investment Opportunities - The report suggests that investors should consider gold and silver mining stocks, as their valuations are currently low and expected to benefit from rising gold prices [26] - Specific companies mentioned as potential beneficiaries include Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining, Shandong Gold Mining, and Zijin Mining [6][26][28]