Core Insights - The US consumer confidence index rose to 97.2 in July, but the increase was below market expectations [1] - The current conditions index, reflecting consumer assessments of the business and labor market, decreased to 131.5, down 1.5 from June [1] - The expectations index, which gauges short-term outlooks on income, business, and labor market conditions, increased to 74.4, up 4.5 from June [1] Group 1: Consumer Confidence Trends - The consumer confidence index has stabilized since May but remains lower than the same period last year [2] - The increase in consumer confidence was primarily driven by individuals aged 35 and above, with all income groups above $15,000 seeing an increase, except for those earning below $15,000 [1] - 18.9% of consumers reported difficulty in finding jobs, marking the lowest assessment of the job market since March 2021 [1] Group 2: Economic Concerns - Tariffs are a major concern for consumers, with many fearing that they will lead to rising prices and inflation [2] - The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for June showed a year-on-year increase of 2.7% and a month-on-month increase of 0.3%, indicating signs of rising inflation [2]

Market Overview - International gold prices experienced fluctuations and closed higher on July 29, with an opening price of $3,314.71 per ounce, a high of $3,334.13, a low of $3,307.99, and a closing price of $3,320.60 [1]. Economic Indicators - The U.S. JOLTs job openings for June recorded 7.437 million, below the market expectation of 7.5 million and down from the previous value of 7.769 million. This indicates a decline in job openings after two months of increases, suggesting a stable overall labor demand [2][4]. - The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for July was reported at 97.2, exceeding the market expectation of 95 and up from the previous value of 93. This reflects a slight improvement in consumer sentiment, although it remains below last year's levels [2][4]. Federal Reserve Insights - Federal Reserve officials are reportedly divided on the need for future interest rate cuts, with some waiting for clearer evidence before making a decision. The focus will be on whether Chairman Powell will hint at a potential rate cut in September during the upcoming press conference [4][6]. Trade Developments - The U.S. Commerce Secretary announced that President Trump will unveil pharmaceutical industry policies within two weeks. Additionally, Trump indicated that India may face tariffs of 20%-25%, although an agreement has not yet been finalized [5][6]. Technical Analysis of Gold - Gold prices showed a rebound after a period of decline, with short-term support levels being established. The market is currently in a cautious trading phase, with specific trading ranges suggested for both long and short positions [8].

Group 1 - The consumer confidence index in the U.S. rose from a revised 95.2 in June to 97.2 in July, indicating a gradual stabilization since April's decline [1] - The "present situation index" decreased by 1.5 points to 131.5, reflecting increased concerns about the current job market, while the "expectations index" increased by 4.5 points to 74.4, although it remains below the 80 threshold that typically signals a recession [1] - Only 14.3% of consumers rated the current business conditions as "bad," a slight decrease from 15% in June, while those rating it as "good" fell from 20.5% to 20.1% [1] Group 2 - Consumer confidence improvements were primarily driven by individuals aged 35 and older, with all income levels showing positive trends except for households earning less than $15,000 [2] - Concerns about tariffs remain high among consumers, with inflation expectations slightly decreasing to 5.8% in July from 5.9% in June, despite increased mentions of "high prices" and "inflation" [2] - Confidence in the stock market has improved, with 47.9% of respondents expecting stock prices to rise in the next 12 months, up from 37.6% three months prior [2] Group 3 - Consumers expect interest rates on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards to rise, with the expectation for credit card rates being the most pronounced [3] - The assessment of household financial conditions remains stable but shows signs of fatigue, with a decrease in the proportion of consumers expecting a recession in the next 12 months, although it remains above 2024 levels [3] - There has been a decline in the willingness to purchase cars and homes, while service consumption intentions have decreased for the second consecutive month, particularly in dining out and travel-related expenses [3]

金十数据7月29日讯，美国7月谘商会消费者信心指数从6月份的95.2升至7月份的97.2。现况指数下降1.5 点至131.5点。预期指数升4.5点至74.4。但预期仍低于80的门槛，标志着连续第六个月出现衰退。该机 构全球指标高级经济学家吉查德表示："自5月份以来，消费者信心已经稳定下来，从4月份的暴跌中反 弹，但仍低于去年令人兴奋的水平。"7月份，对未来的悲观情绪有所消退，导致整体信心略有改善。预 期指数的三个组成部分都有所改善，消费者对未来商业状况和就业的悲观情绪有所缓解，对未来收入的 乐观情绪有所上升。与此同时，消费者对现状的评估变化不大。然而，他们对当前就业机会的评估连续 第七个月下降，达到2021年3月以来的最低水平。 美国7月消费者信心指数小幅上升 ...

智通财经7月29日电，美国7月消费者信心指数为97.2，预期值为96.0。 ...

Core Insights - The Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board for July is reported at 97.2, surpassing the expected value of 95 and the previous value of 93 [1] Group 1 - The increase in the Consumer Confidence Index indicates a positive sentiment among consumers, which may lead to increased spending and economic growth [1] - The current index value of 97.2 suggests a recovery in consumer confidence compared to the previous month, reflecting improved economic conditions [1] - The expectation of 95 was exceeded, indicating stronger consumer optimism than analysts had predicted [1]

Group 1 - Companies in Taiwan are facing increasing pressure due to rising exchange rates, order fluctuations, and tariff issues, leading to labor costs being passed down to frontline workers [1] - A specific company in Taichung, affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and U.S. tariff wars, has shifted from aiming for an IPO to being acquired due to the adverse impacts of currency appreciation [1] - The Taiwanese government is preparing a budget of NT$93 billion to support industries and stabilize the job market amid the tariff impacts on small and medium-sized enterprises [3] Group 2 - As of mid-July, 179 companies in Taiwan have implemented reduced work hours or unpaid leave, affecting 3,196 workers, marking a six-month high [2] - The uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs has led to 5% of surveyed companies reporting layoffs, while 25% have paused hiring plans [2] - The consumer confidence index in Taiwan has slightly increased to 64.38 points, ending a nine-month decline, although the overall economic outlook remains cautious [3][4]

Group 1 - Domestic refined oil prices are set to enter a new adjustment window [1] - The Bank of England's mortgage approvals for June will be released at 16:30 [1] - The FHFA House Price Index for May will be published at 21:00 [1] Group 2 - The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index for May will be released at 21:00 [3] - The JOLTs job openings report for June will be available at 22:00 [3] - The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index for July will be released at 22:00 [3] - The API crude oil inventory report for the week ending July 25 will be published at 04:30 the next day [3]

Investment Rating - The report suggests a positive outlook for certain Japanese consumer companies, particularly Asics, Pan Pacific International Holdings, Fast Retailing, and Asahi Group, due to their optimistic profit growth prospects [5]. Core Insights - High temperatures in June boosted sales of beverages and summer clothing, while duty-free consumption saw a significant decline [2][13]. - The consumer confidence index in Japan rose to 34.5 in June, the highest in four months, indicating improved consumer sentiment [7]. - The report highlights a mixed performance across different sectors, with essential goods showing resilience while discretionary spending faced challenges [4][26]. Summary by Sections Macro Overview - The consumer confidence index increased to 34.5 in June, up from 32.8 in May, with all sub-indices showing improvement [7]. - Core CPI rose by 3.3% year-on-year in June, a decrease from 3.7% in May, indicating a slowdown in inflation [9]. - The producer price index (PPI) increased by 2.9% year-on-year in June, reflecting easing cost pressures for producers [11]. Essential Consumption - Drugstore same-store sales showed positive growth, with PPIH, 7-Eleven, and Aeon reporting increases of 4.5%, 2.0%, and 2.1% respectively [3][15]. - Beverage sales turned positive due to high temperatures, with Suntory and Asahi reporting year-on-year sales growth of 1% and 9% respectively [18]. - The overall beer industry faced challenges, with Asahi's domestic revenue declining by 1% and Kirin's by 2% [20]. Discretionary Consumption - Clothing sales remained robust, with Workman and Uniqlo reporting same-store sales growth of 15.0% and 6.4% respectively [28]. - Restaurant same-store sales growth slowed, with major brands like Food&Life and McDonald's showing increases of 14.5% and 3.6% respectively [26]. - Department store sales continued to decline, with a 7.8% year-on-year drop in June, primarily due to a 40.6% decrease in duty-free sales [34]. Stock Market Performance - In June, the retail sector index rose by 3.7%, while the food and beverage sector increased by 0.7% [42]. - The report notes significant inflows into retail and food and beverage ETFs, indicating investor interest in these sectors [5].

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that Italy's Istat consumer confidence index for July is reported at 97.2, which exceeds the expected value of 95.9 and the previous value of 96.1 [1]