Group 1: Industrial Production - China's industrial production remains stable, with daily average pig iron output and steel plate production increasing week-on-week[1] - The operating rate of oil asphalt and some chemical products has improved, while cement clinker capacity utilization has slightly adjusted[1] - Polyester weaving and automotive tire production rates have rebounded, indicating a recovery in downstream industries[1] Group 2: Real Estate - New home sales in 30 major cities decreased by 8.9% year-on-year, but the decline rate improved by 6.2 percentage points compared to the previous week[1] - Year-to-date, new home sales have dropped by 14.2%, a 5.0 percentage point improvement from the previous month[1] - The index for second-hand home listing prices fell by 0.42% week-on-week as of August 4[1] Group 3: Domestic Demand - Movie box office revenue averaged 206.74 million yuan per day, showing a year-on-year increase of 46.2%[1] - Domestic flight operations increased by 1.6% year-on-year, with the Baidu migration index rising by 17.7%[1] - Retail sales of major home appliances grew by 10.5% year-on-year as of August 1[1] Group 4: External Demand - Port cargo throughput increased by 6.8% year-on-year, while container throughput rose by 4.1%[1] - South Korea's export value decreased by 4.3% year-on-year, a decline of 10.2 percentage points from July[1] - The Chinese export container freight index fell by 0.6% week-on-week, indicating a downward adjustment in shipping rates[1] Group 5: Price Trends - The South China industrial product index rose by 0.4%, while the black raw material index remained stable[1] - Rebar futures prices dropped by 0.8%, and spot prices fell by 0.3%[1] - Coking coal futures prices increased by 0.2%, but spot prices in Shanxi decreased by 0.6%[1]

Group 1: Industrial Production - Industrial production in China shows divergence, with raw material production demonstrating relative resilience[1] - Daily pig iron output is higher than the same period last year, while steel and construction material production and apparent demand have marginally declined[1] - The operating rates for petroleum asphalt and some chemical products have recovered, while cement clinker capacity utilization remains stable compared to last week[1] Group 2: Real Estate - New home sales in 30 major cities decreased by 18.4% year-on-year as of August 1, 2025, with a 19.3% decline in July compared to the previous month[1] - The second-hand housing listing price index decreased by 0.48% month-on-month as of July 21, 2025[1] Group 3: Domestic Demand - National retail sales of passenger cars from July 1-27, 2025, reached 1.445 million units, a 9% increase year-on-year, while the total market for July is estimated at around 1.85 million units, up 7.6% year-on-year[1] - Major home appliance retail sales increased by 18.5% year-on-year as of July 25, 2025[1] - Daily movie box office revenue averaged 230 million yuan, a 27.9% increase year-on-year, with a government subsidy program in Beijing to encourage attendance[1] Group 4: External Demand - Port cargo throughput increased by 10.9% year-on-year as of July 27, 2025, with container throughput up by 5.6%[1] - South Korea's export value grew by 5.9% year-on-year in July, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from June[1] Group 5: Price Trends - The South China industrial product index fell by 3.8%, with the black raw materials index down by 5.6%[1] - Rebar futures prices dropped by 4.6%, while spot prices decreased by 2.3%; coking coal futures fell by 13.2%, but spot prices rose by 1.2%[1]

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Chinese Macro Economy and Real Estate Market - **Company**: Goldman Sachs (GS) Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Mixed Economic Data for May**: - Fixed asset investment growth was only 3.7%, below the expected 4.0% - Industrial value-added growth was 5.8%, slightly below the expected 6.0% - Retail sales of consumer goods grew strongly by 6.4%, exceeding the market expectation of 4.9% [2][3] 2. **Decline in Urban Housing Demand**: - GS revised the forecast for urban housing demand, estimating it will remain below 5 million units annually, a 75% decrease from the peak of 20 million units in 2017 - Current housing prices are still declining, indicating the real estate market has not yet bottomed out [3][4] 3. **Limited Impact of Export Front-Loading**: - Anticipated "reciprocal" tariffs led to front-loading of exports, with an estimated 5% increase in overall exports in March - The impact on exports for the second half of the year is expected to be limited to 1 percentage point, suggesting that trade surpluses will remain strong [5][4] 4. **Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth**: - May saw a slowdown in fiscal operations, with budgetary income growth at only 0.1%, significantly lower than April's 1.9% - Fiscal expenditure growth decreased from 5.8% in April to 2.6%, indicating that fiscal stimulus has not significantly strengthened [11][12] 5. **Real Estate Revenue Weakness**: - Land transfer revenue fell by 14.2% year-on-year, a stark contrast to April's growth of 3.9% - Budgetary real estate-related tax revenue decreased by 8.6%, reflecting ongoing weakness in the real estate market [11][12] 6. **Geopolitical Tensions and Energy Prices**: - Brent crude oil prices rose to nearly $80 per barrel due to escalating tensions in Iran, with a geopolitical risk premium of about $12 - Two scenarios for oil price increases were outlined, with potential peaks of $90 and $110 per barrel under different supply disruption scenarios [26][28] 7. **Copper Demand Driven by AI**: - AI-driven data center expansion is expected to become a new growth driver for copper demand, particularly in power distribution and cooling systems - Strong capital expenditure expectations for AI-related investments are anticipated to sustain demand for copper-intensive components [32][34] 8. **Modern Dairy Industry Forecast**: - Modern Dairy, a joint venture of Mengniu, expects a net loss of RMB 800-1,000 million in the first half of 2025, significantly higher than last year's loss of RMB 207 million - The core operations remain resilient, with EBITDA expected to remain stable due to lower raw milk sales costs [38][39] Other Important but Possibly Overlooked Content - **Fiscal Space for Expansion**: Despite current economic growth exceeding expectations, GS anticipates further fiscal expansion in the second half of the year to counter deflationary pressures and boost confidence [16][18] - **Market Sentiment and Currency Dynamics**: The report highlights a divergence in safe-haven currencies, with the dollar and Swiss franc performing strongly while Asian low-yield currencies face pressure [16][18] - **Potential for Future Trade Weakness**: High-frequency transport data indicates a potential weakening of Chinese exports to the U.S., particularly in container traffic, which may reflect the impact of new tariffs [35][37]

Group 1 - The report from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics predicts stable growth for China's economy in 2025 despite external uncertainties and internal transformation challenges [1] - On the supply side, industrial transformation continues, with new industries like new energy and new materials becoming new growth drivers, while traditional industries face overcapacity and profit shrinkage [1] - The demand side is slowly recovering but remains fragile, with households preferring to save more and reduce debt, which could have long-term implications for macroeconomic demand [1] Group 2 - The report suggests balancing short-term demand stabilization with long-term reforms, including targeted easing to alleviate debt pressure and support high-end manufacturing [2] - There is a need to break market segmentation and accelerate the construction of a unified national market to enhance market confidence and stimulate consumption and investment [2] - The current macroeconomic concern is persistently low price levels, with industries experiencing faster profit declines than cost reductions, necessitating a shift to a new governance model led by the government [2]

Core Viewpoint - The 2025 China Macroeconomic Mid-Year Forum emphasizes the need for a balance between short-term demand stabilization and long-term reforms to address the prominent supply-demand imbalance in the economy [1] Group 1: Economic Challenges and Recommendations - The report highlights that despite the resilience of China's economy, the supply-demand imbalance remains a significant issue, necessitating policy adjustments [1] - Experts suggest accelerating the construction of a unified national market to foster a competitive environment and avoid resource wastage [1] - Liu Yuanchun advocates for a shift in macroeconomic governance to focus on micro-level management and address "involution" in competition as a policy priority [5][7] Group 2: Domestic Demand and Structural Reforms - Zhang Jun stresses the importance of enhancing domestic demand as both an immediate necessity and a long-term strategy, emphasizing the need for stable market expectations and investment [8][11] - Recommendations include improving local government debt management and reforming income distribution mechanisms to ensure steady growth in disposable income [11][12] - Continuous supply-side structural reforms are necessary to improve supply quality and facilitate economic circulation [12] Group 3: External Environment and Economic Outlook - Lian Ping notes that the external environment presents both structural opportunities and challenges, with complex interactions affecting global capital flows and trade patterns [13][14] - The outlook for the second half of the year indicates significant downward pressure on economic growth, particularly in exports and the real estate sector [19][21] - Policy measures are recommended to address these challenges, including reforms in the real estate market and social security systems to support consumption [21][18]

Group 1: Macroeconomic Outlook - Clients believe that China's growth target of around 5% is likely to be achieved due to resilient export demand, although concerns exist about a significant slowdown in exports after the summer [1] - There is a prevailing pessimism regarding the real estate market, with expectations of continued declines in housing prices and a contraction in real estate investment extending into next year [1] - Many clients anticipate that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation may remain negative for the year, and there is little hope for additional policy stimulus unless economic data deteriorates rapidly [1] Group 2: Trade Relations - Clients express concerns about potential escalation in trade tensions as the July 9 deadline approaches, but most believe that the peak of uncertainty has passed [2] - Despite trade uncertainties, some international clients are increasing investments in Chinese production infrastructure due to cost efficiency and product quality advantages [2] - Investors expect the USD/CNY exchange rate to remain stable, although there are notable downside risks, with many anticipating a further weakening of the dollar in the medium term [2] Group 3: Investment Strategies - In a low-yield and low-volatility environment, investors are seeking alternative investment opportunities, with some asset management firms increasing their equity allocations for better returns [3] - The upcoming QDII quota issuance allows qualified investors to expand their investments in overseas securities, with attention on potential improvements to the interconnectivity mechanism during the upcoming Bond Connect anniversary summit [3] Group 4: Views on U.S. Interest Rates - There is a divergence in client views regarding U.S. fiscal risks, with some preferring tactical trading in the middle of the yield curve while others are increasing holdings in U.S. Treasury bonds, particularly the 20-year bonds, due to attractive yields [5] - Clients are considering hedging duration risk as the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield remains below 4.3% [5]

Group 1 - The policy governance goal has shifted from "Six Stabilities" to "Four Stabilities," focusing on stabilizing employment, enterprises, markets, and expectations, reflecting changes in the economic environment and governance thinking [1][15][17] - The emphasis on employment remains unchanged, with a record high of over 17.7 million new urban labor force and 12.22 million college graduates this year, highlighting the importance of job stability for consumer confidence and investment [1][15][18] - The integration of previously scattered policies into a more systematic approach allows for more precise interventions in the economy, focusing on the micro-foundations of economic operation [1][16][17] Group 2 - In the first quarter, China's economy achieved a growth rate of 5.4%, driven by export "grab" effects, early issuance of local bonds for infrastructure investment, and the "new three items" investment boom [2][18][21] - The sustainability of these driving factors and the emergence of new growth momentum will significantly impact the economic outlook for the second half of the year [2][18][19] - The second quarter serves as a critical observation period for the effects of previous policies and the transition to subsequent policies, which will shape the economic trajectory [2][18][19] Group 3 - Exports have shown resilience, with a cumulative year-on-year growth of 6% from January to May 2025, supported by increased non-U.S. exports and the "grab export" effect [3][21] - The "grab export" effect is expected to weaken, as the space for further "price-for-volume" strategies in U.S. exports diminishes [6][21][36] - The trade dynamics are influenced by ongoing U.S.-China tariff policies, with companies adjusting their strategies in response to changing tariffs [6][20][45] Group 4 - Consumer spending and investment have been stimulated by policies, with retail sales showing a cumulative year-on-year growth of 5% in the first five months of 2025 [4][23][27] - The "old-for-new" consumption policy and large-scale equipment updates have significantly contributed to this growth, with substantial government support for these initiatives [4][23][26] - Infrastructure investment has been bolstered by early local bond issuance, with a historic increase in special bonds and local government debt planned for 2025 [4][27] Group 5 - Economic internal dynamics show signs of weakness, particularly in major cities where consumer spending has declined, indicating a potential challenge for future growth [5][29][33] - Fixed asset investment growth has been uneven, with manufacturing and infrastructure performing well, while real estate investment continues to decline [5][31][33] - Price levels reflect ongoing demand issues, with CPI and PPI showing negative growth, indicating persistent economic challenges [5][33][36] Group 6 - The second half of 2025 may face significant pressures, including the impact of export uncertainties and the diminishing effects of stimulus policies [6][36][42] - Employment stability is under pressure, with a record number of college graduates entering the job market and potential job losses in export-oriented small and medium enterprises [7][43][46] - The interplay between employment stability and other economic factors such as enterprise stability, market stability, and expectations will be crucial for economic resilience [7][43][46]

Group 1 - The forum focused on the theme of "Steady Navigation of China's Macroeconomy," with various experts sharing their insights [1] - Huang Qifan emphasized the importance of productive services in enhancing manufacturing efficiency and technological progress, highlighting its role across the entire industrial chain [2] - The CMF report suggested increasing economic growth momentum and improving the channels for economic benefits to reach the public, with specific directions including structural transformation from manufacturing to services and urbanization potential [2]

Core Viewpoint - The report from the China Macroeconomic Forum emphasizes the importance of maintaining stability in China's macroeconomic development, highlighting strong performance in the first half of the year but acknowledging pressures for the second half [1] Group 1: Economic Performance - In the first half of 2024, China's economy showed strong growth, with the GDP growth rate exceeding expectations [1] - The total import and export volume from January to May increased by 2.5% year-on-year, with exports rising by 7.2% [1] - The resilience of exports is attributed to increased non-U.S. exports, the "export rush" effect, and a strategy of "price for volume" in exports to the U.S. [1] Group 2: Investment and Consumption - Consumption was the biggest highlight in the first half of the year, with retail sales of consumer goods growing by 5% year-on-year in the first five months, and a peak growth of 6.4% in May [2] - The "old-for-new" policy significantly boosted retail sales in furniture, communications, and home appliances, with growth rates exceeding 20% [2] - It is estimated that the "old-for-new" funds could reach 330 billion yuan, potentially increasing the retail sales growth rate by approximately 0.7 percentage points [2] Group 3: Internal Economic Dynamics - The report indicates a divergence in internal economic dynamics, with overall strength still needing consolidation [2] - Despite positive national data, cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin experienced negative growth in retail sales [2] - The real estate sector has stabilized but still shows several indicators in negative territory [2] Group 4: Recommendations for the Second Half - The report suggests maintaining stability in three main areas: enhancing export certainty, consolidating and optimizing policies for consumption and investment, and increasing internal economic momentum [2] - Strategies for internal economic dynamics include increasing growth drivers and improving channels for economic benefits to reach the public [2]

Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the content Core Viewpoints - China's economic growth in April showed resilience overall, with industrial production and exports better than market expectations, while fixed - asset investment and consumption were slightly below expectations [72]. - The Sino - US Geneva economic and trade talks led to a "rush to export" to the US in mid - May, but the long - term uncertainty remains [33][72]. - The domestic real estate market is still in the bottom - grinding process, with the decline in real estate development investment widening, which continues to drag down economic growth [72]. - The second - quarter economic growth faces challenges compared to the first quarter, but the "rush to export" factor is beneficial for the stable growth of the second - quarter economy [72]. Summary by Related Content Fixed - Asset Investment - From January to April, national fixed - asset investment increased by 4.0% year - on - year, down from 4.2% in January - March and lower than the market expectation of 4.26% [4][6]. - From January to April, broad infrastructure investment (including electricity) increased by 10.85% year - on - year, down from 11.5% in January - March but higher than the market expectation of 10.0% [6]. - From January to April, manufacturing investment increased by 8.8% year - on - year, down from 9.1% in January - March and lower than the market expectation of 9.1% [6]. - From January to April, national real estate development investment decreased by 10.3% year - on - year, with the decline expanding from 9.9% in January - March [6]. - In high - tech industries, the investment in information services, computer and office equipment manufacturing, aerospace and spacecraft equipment manufacturing, and professional technical services increased by 40.6%, 28.9%, 23.9%, and 17.6% respectively year - on - year [6]. - From January to April, equipment purchase investment increased by 18.2%, with a growth contribution rate of 64.5% [6]. Real Estate Market - From January to April, the sales area of newly built commercial housing nationwide was 28,262 million square meters, a year - on - year decrease of 2.8%, narrowing from a 3.0% decline in January - March [7][9]. - From January to April, the sales volume of newly built commercial housing nationwide was 2.7035 trillion yuan, a year - on - year decrease of 3.2%, with the decline expanding from 2.1% in January - March [9]. - In the first 28 days of May, the average daily transaction area of commercial housing in 30 large - and medium - sized cities was 240,000 square meters, a year - on - year decrease of 1.5%, with the decline in April being larger and narrowing in May [10][12]. - The national second - hand housing price is still in the bottom - grinding stage, with the decline rate slowing down this year compared to last year [13][15]. Consumption - In April, the total retail sales of consumer goods were 3.7174 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 5.1%, lower than the market expectation of 5.5% and down from 5.9% in March [16][18]. - From January to April, the total retail sales of consumer goods were 16.1845 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 4.7% (3.5% for the whole of last year); excluding automobiles, the retail sales of consumer goods were 14.7005 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 5.2% (3.8% for the whole of last year) [18]. - In April, the categories with relatively large year - on - year increases in the retail sales of goods by units above the designated size included household appliances and audio - visual equipment, cultural and office supplies, furniture, gold and silver jewelry, sports and entertainment products, and communication equipment, with increases of 38.8%, 33.5%, 26.9%, 25.3%, 23.3%, and 19.9% respectively [21]. Service Industry - In April, the national service industry production index increased by 6.0% year - on - year, down from 6.3% in March [22][24]. - In April, the production indexes of information transmission, software and information technology services, leasing and business services, wholesale and retail, and the financial industry increased by 10.4%, 8.9%, 6.8%, and 6.1% respectively year - on - year, faster than the service industry production index [24]. Foreign Trade - In April, China's exports denominated in US dollars increased by 8.1% year - on - year, higher than the market forecast of 2.0%, and imports decreased by 0.2% year - on - year, better than the market forecast of a 6.0% decrease [25][27]. - In April, China's exports to ASEAN increased by 20.8%, exports to the EU increased by 8.27%, and exports to the US decreased by 21.03% [28][30]. - After the release of the joint statement of the Sino - US Geneva economic and trade talks on May 12, there was a "rush to ship" in US - bound shipping. The CCFI index of the US - West route on May 23 was significantly higher than that on May 9 [31][33]. Industry - In April, the added value of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 6.1% year - on - year in real terms, higher than the market expectation of 5.2% [34][36]. - In April, the product sales rate of industrial enterprises above the designated size was 97.2%, a year - on - year decrease of 0.2 percentage points [37][39]. - In the first quarter of 2025, the national capacity utilization rate of industrial enterprises above the designated size was 74.1%, 0.5 percentage points higher than the same period last year [40][42]. - From January to April, the operating income of industrial enterprises above the designated size was 43.44 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 3.2%, and the total profit was 2.11702 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 1.4% [45]. - In April, the profit of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 3.0% year - on - year [43][45]. Finance - In April, the scale of social financing increased by 1.16 trillion yuan, lower than the market expectation of 1.26 trillion yuan [46][48]. - In April, RMB loans in the credit statistics increased by 280 billion yuan, lower than the market expectation of 760 billion yuan and a year - on - year decrease of 450 billion yuan [49][51]. - At the end of April, the balance of broad - money (M2) was 325.17 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 8.0%, higher than the market expectation of 7.5%; the balance of narrow - money (M1) was 109.14 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 1.5%, lower than the market expectation of 3.0% [52][54]. - From January to April, the newly - added medium - and long - term loans of enterprises were 5.83 trillion yuan, a year - on - year decrease of 780 billion yuan [55][57]. Employment and Prices - In April, the national urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.1%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous month [58][60]. - In April, the national consumer price index (CPI) decreased by 0.1% year - on - year, in line with the market expectation [61][63]. - In April, the national industrial producer price index (PPI) decreased by 2.7% year - on - year, slightly better than the market expectation of a 2.8% decrease [66][68]. - The 200 - index of agricultural product wholesale prices continued to decline in May, slightly lower than the same period last year [64][65]. - The bulk commodity index fluctuated horizontally and declined slightly in May, and the PPI in May is expected to remain at a relatively low level [69][71].