Group 1 - The current high level of the US stock market is heavily reliant on the expectation of a rate cut in September, and any hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve during the meeting could trigger a market correction [2] - The S&P 500 index has reached 6400 points, with a year-to-date increase of 10%, driven by strong earnings from large tech companies, which has boosted investor confidence in overall market growth [2] - Despite the anticipation of a rate cut, there is a risk that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell may still convey a hawkish stance, prioritizing inflation control and suggesting that relatively high interest rates may persist [2][3] Group 2 - If the Federal Reserve cuts rates too quickly, it could stimulate demand and inflation, hindering the achievement of price stability goals [3] - The upcoming annual monetary policy symposium in Jackson Hole may see Powell indicating that after a September rate cut, the Fed will cautiously monitor inflation trends before deciding on further cuts [3] - Current market expectations suggest more than two rate cuts within the year, which has led to a decline in two-year Treasury yields from around 4% in May to approximately 3.7% [3] Group 3 - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of the S&P 500 has increased from 21.4 times expected earnings in mid-May to 22.5 times, reflecting the belief that lower interest rates support corporate profit expectations [4] - Should the Federal Reserve signal a hawkish approach and yields rise, the P/E ratio may revert to May levels, potentially leading to a nearly 5% decline in the S&P 500 to around 6100 points [4] - Analysts suggest that for investors looking to avoid significant disappointment in returns, now is not an opportune time to aggressively buy stocks [4]

Market Overview - The bond market showed weak performance last week (August 11-15, 2025), with yields generally rising across major bond types. The China Bond Composite Wealth Index (CBA00201) fell by 0.33%, and the China Bond Composite Full Price Index (CBA00203) decreased by 0.38% [14] - The yields of interest rate bonds across various maturities increased, while credit bonds also faced upward pressure on yields, leading to a narrowing of credit spreads [14][15] - The liquidity in the market showed a slight contraction, highlighting the "see-saw" effect between stocks and bonds. The US Treasury market experienced narrow fluctuations with fluctuating rate cut expectations [15][16] Public Fund Market Dynamics - The first batch of Sci-Tech Bond ETFs has continued to attract significant investment, with total assets surpassing 110 billion yuan, reaching 116.12 billion yuan as of August 15, 2025. Eight products exceeded 10 billion yuan in size, with the largest being the Harvest CSI AAA Technology Innovation Corporate Bond ETF at 20.03 billion yuan [18][19] - The overall market for bond ETFs has expanded significantly, with total assets reaching 538.2 billion yuan, nearly doubling from 179.99 billion yuan at the end of 2024. The number of products exceeding 10 billion yuan increased from 5 to 24 [18][19] Fund Index Performance Tracking - The Money Market Enhanced Index rose by 0.02% last week, with a cumulative return of 3.93% since inception [3][21] - The Short-term Bond Fund Index remained unchanged last week, with a cumulative return of 4.12% since inception [4][21] - The Mid-to-Long-term Bond Fund Index fell by 0.16% last week, with a cumulative return of 6.30% since inception [5][21] - The Low Volatility Fixed Income + Fund Index rose by 0.04%, with a cumulative return of 3.32% since inception [6][21] - The Medium Volatility Fixed Income + Fund Index increased by 0.51%, with a cumulative return of 3.62% since inception [7][21] - The High Volatility Fixed Income + Fund Index rose by 0.44%, with a cumulative return of 5.17% since inception [8][21] - The Convertible Bond Fund Index increased by 1.29%, with a cumulative return of 17.35% since inception [9][21] - The QDII Bond Fund Index rose by 0.14%, with a cumulative return of 9.06% since inception [10][21] - The REITs Fund Index fell by 0.76%, with a cumulative return of 36.05% since inception [12][21]

Consumption - Travel and tourism activity remains high, with significant recovery in urban and intercity population movement, reflected in increased subway ridership and flight operations[7] - Retail and wholesale volumes for automobiles have slightly declined, indicating a weakening effect of promotional activities and subsidies[7] - Movie attendance and box office revenues have significantly decreased post-summer, indicating a drop in consumer interest[7] Investment - New special bonds issued reached CNY 3.08 trillion as of August 16, with a recent acceleration in issuance[20] - Real estate transaction volumes remain subdued, with new home sales in 30 cities showing a slight recovery but still down year-on-year[20] - Construction activity is marginally improving, with asphalt operating rates increasing and cement shipment rates recovering seasonally[20] Trade and Prices - Import and export volumes are showing divergence, with a 11.1% decline in imports from China to South Korea and a 4.3% drop in global exports[26] - Domestic export freight rates have decreased for seven consecutive weeks, reflecting a retreat from previous shipping surges due to tariff concerns[26] - The Producer Price Index (PPI) remains flat overall, with industrial prices showing little change except for a notable 15% increase in lithium carbonate prices[44] Liquidity - The 10-year government bond yield rose by 5.7 basis points to 1.75%, indicating a tightening liquidity environment[47] - The US dollar index fell by 42 basis points, influenced by moderate inflation data from July, which strengthened expectations for a potential interest rate cut in September[47]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating There is no information about the report industry investment rating in the provided content. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - Last week (from August 11 to August 15, 2025), the bond market performed weakly, with yields of major bond types generally rising. The ChinaBond - Composite Wealth Index (CBA00201) dropped 0.33%, and the ChinaBond - Composite Full - Price Index (CBA00203) declined 0.38%. Yields of interest - rate bonds across all tenors generally increased, and those of credit bonds across all tenors and ratings were under upward pressure. Credit spreads showed a narrowing trend [2][10]. - The marginal convergence of the capital market was moderate, and the "see - saw" effect between stocks and bonds was prominent. The US bond market fluctuated within a narrow range, and the expectation of interest - rate cuts was inconsistent. The secondary market of REITs continued to adjust, and trading activity decreased [2]. - The Science and Technology Innovation Bond ETF continued to attract funds. As of August 15, 2025, the total scale of the first - batch Science and Technology Innovation Bond ETF products exceeded 110 billion yuan, reaching 116.124 billion yuan in total, with 8 products having a scale exceeding 10 billion yuan [3]. 3. Summary According to Relevant Catalogs 3.1. Pan - Fixed - Income Market Review and Observation - **Bond Market Review**: Last week, the bond market was weak. The ChinaBond - Composite Wealth Index and the ChinaBond - Composite Full - Price Index both declined. Yields of interest - rate bonds and credit bonds generally increased, and credit spreads narrowed. For example, the 1 - year, 3 - year, 5 - year, and 10 - year Treasury yields changed by 1.06bp, - 1.47bp, 3.14bp, and 5.02bp respectively compared to the previous week [2][10]. - **Market Observation**: The capital market marginally converged moderately, and the "see - saw" effect between stocks and bonds was obvious. The central bank's net withdrawal of funds led to a slight increase in capital interest rates. The US bond market fluctuated narrowly, and the expectation of interest - rate cuts was inconsistent. The secondary market of REITs continued to adjust, and trading activity decreased [11][12][13]. 3.2. Public Fund Market Dynamics - The Science and Technology Innovation Bond ETF continued to attract funds. As of August 15, 2025, the total scale of the first - batch products exceeded 110 billion yuan, with 8 products having a scale over 10 billion yuan. The total scale of the bond ETF market in the whole market reached 538.2 billion yuan, nearly tripling compared to the end of 2024. Multiple fund companies are preparing to apply for the second - batch Science and Technology Innovation Bond ETFs [3][14][15]. 3.3. Performance Tracking of Pan - Fixed - Income Fund Indexes - **Money Enhancement Index**: It rose 0.02% last week and has accumulated a return of 3.93% since its establishment [4]. - **Short - Term Bond Fund Optimal Selection**: It had a flat return of 0.00% last week and has accumulated a return of 4.12% since its establishment [4]. - **Medium - and Long - Term Bond Fund Optimal Selection**: It dropped 0.16% last week and has accumulated a return of 6.30% since its establishment [4]. - **Low - Volatility Fixed - Income + Fund Optimal Selection**: It rose 0.04% last week and has accumulated a return of 3.32% since its establishment [4]. - **Medium - Volatility Fixed - Income + Fund Optimal Selection**: It rose 0.51% last week and has accumulated a return of 3.62% since its establishment [4]. - **High - Volatility Fixed - Income + Fund Optimal Selection**: It rose 0.44% last week and has accumulated a return of 5.17% since its establishment [4]. - **Convertible Bond Fund Optimal Selection**: It rose 1.29% last week and has accumulated a return of 17.35% since its establishment [5]. - **QDII Bond Fund Optimal Selection**: It rose 0.14% last week and has accumulated a return of 9.06% since its establishment [5]. - **REITs Fund Optimal Selection**: It dropped 0.76% last week and has accumulated a return of 36.05% since its establishment [5].

Industry Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Outperform the Market" and is maintained [1] Core Viewpoints - The report highlights investment opportunities in rare earth magnetic materials and energy metals such as lithium and cobalt, indicating a positive long-term outlook despite short-term fluctuations in prices [5][9] - The report notes that copper prices are expected to rise in the long term due to supply constraints, particularly after Chile's national copper commission significantly lowered its 2025 copper production growth forecast [5] - The report emphasizes the strong demand for rare earth metals, driven by increased orders from major manufacturers, which is expected to lead to price increases [9] Summary by Relevant Sections Industry Basic Situation - The closing index for the industry is 5905.88, with a weekly high of 5905.88 and a low of 3700.9 [1] Price Movements - Basic metals saw LME copper decrease by 0.08%, aluminum by 0.46%, zinc by 1.32%, and lead by 1.12%. In contrast, lithium prices surged by 15.02% [21] Inventory Changes - Global visible inventory changes included an increase of 6293 tons in copper, 30567 tons in aluminum, and 950 tons in nickel, while lead saw a decrease of 3973 tons [32]

Report Industry Investment Ratings There is no information provided regarding the report industry investment ratings in the given content. Core Viewpoints - The market sentiment is gradually turning rational, and the disk trends are starting to weaken. If the subsequent demand cannot be effectively repaired, commodity prices may be difficult to maintain the current level, and the disk prices may gradually return to the supply - demand logic [25]. - Policy - related emotional disturbances will continue to interfere with the disk, but ultimately, prices will move closer to the fundamentals after the emotions fade, which will take some time [31]. Summary by Categories Macro - Financial Index Futures - The central bank will focus on the supply - side in its financial policies, aiming to create effective demand with high - quality supply and promote a reasonable recovery of prices. Southbound funds had a record - high net purchase of HK$358.76 billion [2]. - The current policy is favorable to the capital market. After recent continuous increases, the market may experience intensified short - term fluctuations, but the general strategy is to go long on dips [3]. Treasury Bonds - In July, industrial added - value and social consumption showed growth, while real estate investment and new housing sales declined. The central bank will implement a moderately loose monetary policy [4]. - The economy showed resilience in the first half of the year, and the central bank is maintaining a loose attitude towards funds. Interest rates are expected to decline in the long - term, but the bond market may return to a volatile pattern in the short - term [6]. Precious Metals - US inflation data rebounded, and there are differences among Fed officials regarding inflation. The market is highly expecting a Fed rate cut. The speech of Fed Chairman Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium will significantly affect precious metal prices [7][8]. Non - Ferrous Metals Copper - Although US inflation data rebounded, the market has strong rate - cut expectations. The supply of copper raw materials remains tight, and the overall copper price may consolidate and wait for further macro - level drivers [10]. Aluminum - The domestic aluminum ingot inventory is at a relatively low level, and the export data is strong, which supports the aluminum price. However, weak downstream consumption and fluctuating trade situations may cause the aluminum price to fluctuate and decline in the short - term [11]. Zinc - The zinc market is in an oversupply situation, with domestic social inventories increasing rapidly and overseas registered warehouse receipts at a low level. Zinc prices still face significant downward risks [13]. Lead - The lead market has a situation of weak supply and demand, with slow inventory accumulation. Lead prices are expected to be weak [14]. Nickel - The short - term macro - environment is positive, driving nickel prices to rebound slightly, but weak downstream demand may cause prices to correct [15]. Tin - The supply of tin is currently tight, and demand is weak during the off - season. As Myanmar's production resumes, tin prices are expected to fluctuate [17]. Carbonate Lithium - The market expects a significant supply shortage of domestic carbonate lithium in the second half of the year, but the actual reduction in supply depends on the mining end. The current price increase may attract more supply, and investors are advised to be cautious [18]. Alumina - There are continuous disturbances in the supply of domestic and foreign ores, but the over - capacity pattern of alumina remains unchanged. It is recommended to short at high prices [19]. Stainless Steel - The stainless - steel market is in a state of weak demand and may continue to consolidate in the short - term [21]. Casting Aluminum Alloy - The downstream of casting aluminum alloy is in the off - season, with weak supply and demand. Although the cost side provides some support, the upward resistance of prices is increasing [22]. Black Building Materials Steel - The steel market has weak demand and insufficient demand support. If demand cannot be effectively repaired, steel prices may decline. It is necessary to pay attention to the recovery of terminal demand and the support of the cost side [25]. Iron Ore - Currently, the supply pressure of iron ore is not significant, but the profitability of steel mills is declining, and terminal demand is weakening. Iron ore prices may adjust slightly in the short - term [27]. Glass and Soda Ash - Glass production is increasing, inventory pressure is rising, and demand is weak. In the short - term, glass prices are expected to fluctuate, and in the long - term, they will follow macro - level emotions. Soda ash production is increasing, and inventory pressure is rising, but the price center may gradually rise in the long - term [28][29]. Manganese Silicon and Ferrosilicon - The over - capacity pattern of manganese silicon remains unchanged, and the supply pressure is increasing. The demand for ferrosilicon and manganese silicon may weaken in the future. It is recommended that speculative funds wait and see, while hedging funds can seize opportunities [30][32]. Industrial Silicon and Polysilicon - The over - capacity and high - inventory problems of industrial silicon remain unresolved. Although demand provides some support in August, prices are expected to fluctuate weakly. The polysilicon market has a situation of weak supply and demand, and prices are expected to fluctuate widely [35][36]. Energy and Chemicals Rubber - The rubber market has different views from bulls and bears. The short - term increase in rubber prices is large, and it is recommended to wait and see neutrally and consider band - trading strategies [38][41]. Crude Oil - Although geopolitical premiums have disappeared and the macro - environment is bearish, the current oil price is undervalued, and there is an opportunity for left - hand side layout [42]. Methanol - The supply pressure of methanol is increasing, and demand is weak. It is recommended to wait and see [43]. Urea - The supply of urea is relatively loose, and demand is average. The price is in a narrow - range fluctuation, and it is recommended to focus on long - position opportunities at low prices [44]. Styrene - The BZN spread of styrene is expected to repair, and port inventories are decreasing. Styrene prices may rise with the cost side [45]. PVC - The PVC market has strong supply, weak demand, and high valuations. It is recommended to wait and see [47]. Ethylene Glycol - The supply of ethylene glycol is decreasing, and demand is gradually recovering, but the inventory is increasing. The fundamentals are weakening, and the short - term valuation may decline [49]. PTA - The supply of PTA is expected to increase, and demand needs improvement. It is recommended to consider long - position opportunities with PX at low prices during the peak season [50]. p - Xylene - The load of PX is high, and downstream PTA has many short - term maintenance operations. PX is expected to continue to reduce inventory, and the valuation has support but limited upward space [51]. Polyethylene (PE) - The price of PE may be determined by the game between the cost side and the supply side in the short - term. It is recommended to hold short positions [53]. Polypropylene (PP) - The supply and demand of PP are weak, and the cost side may dominate the market. The price is expected to fluctuate strongly with the oil price [54]. Agricultural Products Live Pigs - The supply and demand of live pigs are expected to increase in the third quarter. The market may fluctuate within a range. It is recommended to buy at low prices in the short - term, pay attention to upper - level pressure in the medium - term, and use reverse - spread strategies for far - month contracts [56]. Eggs - The supply of eggs is sufficient, but it is currently the peak season, and egg prices are expected to rise slightly after stabilizing. In the medium - term, it is recommended to sell on rebounds [57]. Soybean and Rapeseed Meal - The USDA has reduced the soybean planting area, which is bullish for CBOT soybeans in the short - term. The import cost of soybeans is stable and slightly rising. It is recommended to go long on dips in the cost range of soybean meal [58][59]. Edible Oils - The fundamentals of edible oils are supported, but the upward space is limited. The market is expected to fluctuate strongly [62]. Sugar - The international sugar production is expected to increase, and the domestic import supply is increasing. Zhengzhou sugar prices are likely to continue to decline [64]. Cotton - The cotton price is affected by positive news but has weak downstream consumption. In the short - term, cotton prices are expected to fluctuate at a high level [65].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the continued recovery of overseas demand for U.S. Treasury bonds, with a notable increase in holdings by major foreign investors in June 2025 [1] - In June 2025, the total overseas holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds rose by $80.2 billion to $9.13 trillion, marking the fourth consecutive month above $9 trillion [1] - The top three holders of U.S. Treasury bonds, Japan, the UK, and mainland China, all increased their holdings in June, with Japan and the UK showing significant growth [1][2] Group 2 - Japan's holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds increased by $12.6 billion to $1.1476 trillion, while the UK saw an increase of $48.7 billion to $858.1 billion [2] - Mainland China's holdings slightly rose by $1 billion to $756.4 billion, maintaining its position as the third-largest holder [2] - Canada ranked fifth with net purchases of $8.4 billion in June, while Belgium continued to buy, adding $1.79 billion [4] Group 3 - The article notes a general trend of optimism in the market due to effective trade negotiations and rising expectations for interest rate cuts, leading to a decline in Treasury yields [4] - The 10-year Treasury yield fell by 19 basis points to 4.23%, reaching a two-month low, while the 2-year yield also dropped by 19 basis points to 3.72% [4] - Market expectations for interest rate cuts have significantly increased, with most traders anticipating a reduction to the 3.5%-3.75% range by December [4] Group 4 - The U.S. Senate has advanced a bill that could increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next decade, with former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers suggesting the actual increase could exceed $4 trillion [5] - The U.S. federal debt recently surpassed $37 trillion, with projections indicating it could reach $150 trillion by 2055 if no action is taken [5] - Interest payments on the debt are projected to reach $1 trillion this year, becoming the second-largest item in the federal budget, surpassing defense and Medicare spending [5][6]

Core Insights - The report indicates that recent economic data has led to fluctuating expectations for interest rate cuts, influenced by easing geopolitical risks and mixed performance across major asset classes. The US CPI showed moderate performance, which initially raised rate cut expectations, but a subsequent rebound in PPI and stable retail data caused these expectations to retract. The MSCI global index rose by 1.22%, with most national markets experiencing gains, while US stock indices showed varied performance with the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq increasing by 1.7%, 0.9%, and 0.8% respectively [2][17][27]. Economic Data Summary - The US July CPI remained stable at 2.7% year-on-year, matching the previous value but falling short of the expected 2.8%. Core CPI increased to 3.1%, above the prior 2.9% and the forecast of 3.0%. The report highlights that energy prices significantly declined, impacting overall CPI, while core goods showed slower growth, indicating a lag in tariff transmission [3][12]. - The July PPI saw a substantial increase from 2.3% to 3.3% year-on-year, exceeding the expected 2.5%. The month-on-month change also rose from 0% to 0.9%, driven primarily by a 2.0% increase in trade services, suggesting ongoing inflationary pressures [3][12]. - Retail sales in July experienced a slight month-on-month decline of 0.5%, although the previous value was revised upward from 0.6% to 0.9%. This indicates a resilient consumer sector, despite some categories like grocery and restaurant sales showing significant declines [12][11]. Policy Developments - The report notes that the US and China have agreed to extend the suspension of tariffs for an additional 90 days until November 10. This decision follows a joint statement from the US and China regarding trade discussions [13]. - Progress was reported in the US-Russia summit, although no formal agreements were reached regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting was characterized by both sides acknowledging advancements in discussions [13]. - The report also mentions that President Trump has expanded the scope of tariffs on steel and aluminum products, with new tariffs set to take effect on August 18, impacting 407 product codes [13]. Market Performance - The report highlights that the US stock market has reached new highs before experiencing a slight pullback. The initial rise was attributed to favorable CPI data, which increased rate cut expectations, but subsequent PPI and retail sales data tempered these expectations [27][28]. - The report indicates that the healthcare and consumer discretionary sectors have shown strong performance, particularly in Chinese pharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks [28]. Asset Class Performance - The MSCI global stock index increased by 1.22%, with notable gains in Japan, Vietnam, and China. The report also details the performance of various asset classes, noting a decline in the dollar index by 0.43% to 97.8, and a drop in COMEX gold and ICE Brent oil prices by 2.21% and 0.29% respectively [17][22].

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the content 2. Core View of the Report - Last week's unexpected inflation data pressured gold and silver. The US July PPI rose 0.9% month - on - month, far higher than the market expectation of 0.2%, and 3.3% year - on - year, hitting a five - month high, cooling the expectation of significant interest rate cuts. However, the employment market's weakening may support gold and silver prices. The overall trade environment is still deteriorating, and the "Big and Beautiful Act" is pushing up the US fiscal deficit expectation. The long - term drivers for gold still provide support, and gold and silver may show a volatile trend as the expectation of interest rate cuts warms up [3] 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Futures Market - **Prices and Changes**: The current prices of沪金2510 and沪金2512 are 775.08 and 777.18 respectively, with price drops of - 0.72 and - 0.62, and declines of - 0.09% and - 0.08%. The current prices of沪银2510 and沪银2512 are 9217.00 and 9236.00 respectively, with price increases of 13.00 and 10.00, and rises of 0.14% and 0.11% [2] - **Trading Volume and Open Interest**: The trading volumes of沪金2510 and沪金2512 are 160609 and 30505, and the open interests are 197655 and 131073. The trading volumes of沪银2510 and沪银2512 are 420183 and 93581, and the open interests are 346128 and 224024 [2] - **Spot Premium and Discount**: The spot premiums and discounts of沪金2510 and沪金2512 are - 1.99 and - 4.09, and those of沪银2510 and沪银2512 are - 29.00 and - 48.00 [2] Spot Market - **Prices and Changes**: The previous day's closing prices of Shanghai Gold T + D, London Gold, and Shanghai Silver T + D are 773.09, 770.26, and 9188.00 respectively. The price changes are - 2.01, 0.47, and - 86.00, and the changes are - 0.26%, 0.06%, and - 0.93%. The previous day's closing price of London Silver is 37.99, with a price increase of 0.01 and a rise of 0.03% [2] - **Price Ratios and Spreads**: The current values of沪金2512 - 沪金2510,沪银2512 - 沪银2510, gold/silver (spot), Shanghai Gold/London Gold, and Shanghai Silver/London Silver are 2.10, 19, 84.14, 7.21, and 7.52 respectively, with corresponding previous values of 2.00, 22, 83.58, 7.23, and 7.60 [2] Inventory - **Inventory Changes**: The current inventories of SHFE gold, SHFE silver, COMEX gold, and COMEX silver are 36,345 kg, 1,141,555 kg, 38,636,332, and 507,551,254 respectively. The changes are - (no change), - 9,227.00 kg, - 6,088.67, and 536643 [2] Related Markets - **Indices and Yields**: The current values of the US Dollar Index, Standard & Poor's Index, US Treasury Yield, Brent Crude Oil, and USD/CNY are 97.8467, 6449.8, 4.33, 66.13, and 7.1891 respectively. The changes are - 0.36%, - 0.29%, 0.93%, 0.01%, and 0.09% [2] Derivatives - **ETF and CFTC Positions**: The current positions of SPDR Gold ETF and SLV Silver ETF are 44315 tons, with an increase of 1.00 ton. The current net positions of CFTC speculators in silver and gold are 33486 and 32895 respectively, with changes of 481 and - 1451 [2] Macro News - **Geopolitical News**: US President Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky on August 18, and there may be a tri - party meeting among the US, Russia, and Ukraine. Russia has made "some concessions" on five Ukrainian regions, and Putin has agreed to include a "NATO - like Article 5" security guarantee clause in the future peace agreement. The EU is preparing the 19th round of sanctions against Russia [3] - **Economic Data**: The US July PPI rose 0.9% month - on - month and 3.3% year - on - year, far higher than expectations. The US July CPI rose 2.7% year - on - year, lower than expected, and the core CPI rose 3.1% year - on - year, slightly higher than expected. The July non - farm payroll data was lower than expected, and the previous value was significantly revised down [3]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve Chairman Powell is unlikely to provide clear guidance on interest rate cuts at the Jackson Hole meeting, with current market expectations for a 25 basis point cut in September facing resistance from the Fed [2][4][12]. Economic Environment - Despite a 100 basis point reduction in the benchmark interest rate over the past year, the macroeconomic environment in the U.S. is more severe than a year ago, necessitating rate cuts to counteract a slowdown in economic growth expected after 2025 [4]. - The downward trend in hard economic data may continue, and Powell's stance at the Jackson Hole meeting will be crucial [4]. Employment Data - The significant downward revision in the July non-farm payroll report initially caused panic, but market focus shifted to the "proportion" of revisions rather than "absolute values," leading to a decrease in recession fears [5]. - Weakness in employment is attributed to a decline in labor supply trends and short-term noise, which limits the report's impact on the likelihood of a September rate cut [5]. Inflation Indicators - The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows strength in services but weakness in goods, while a hotter Producer Price Index (PPI) has created some market disturbances without significantly suppressing the probability of a 25 basis point cut in September [9]. - Concerns about tariff-induced inflation in sensitive core goods are a primary worry for the market, although the increasing contribution of service inflation suggests a temporary positive outlook [9]. Fed's Rate Cut Outlook - The sentiment for a rate cut is bolstered by the expansion of potential candidates for the Fed Chair position, who are perceived as more dovish, indicating a more politically influenced Fed in the future [12]. - If Powell adopts a vague, hawkish tone at the Jackson Hole meeting, it may be a strategic move to counteract overly optimistic expectations for rate cuts [12][18]. Future Data Dependency - The decision for a September rate cut will heavily depend on the August non-farm payroll data, particularly the revisions and the unemployment rate's stability [14]. - Employment metrics are lagging indicators, and the deterioration in labor participation and employment rates suggests underlying weakness in the private sector [17].