Core Points - The U.S. non-farm payroll data for July showed only 73,000 new jobs added, significantly below expectations and breaching the 100,000 threshold, with prior months' data revised down by 258,000 jobs [1][4] - Despite the disappointing job growth, the unemployment rate remained at approximately 4.2%, which is puzzling given the job losses [1][4] - The release of the employment data led to a sharp decline in the stock market, with the Dow and S&P indices dropping nearly 2% and Nasdaq falling over 2.6% [4][8] - The credibility of the official employment data has been called into question due to the significant downward revisions, which undermines public trust in the data [4][8] - The political implications of the employment data are significant, as it reflects the ongoing power struggle and political maneuvering within the U.S. government, particularly in an election year [7][8] Group 1 - The July employment data was disappointing, with only 73,000 new jobs added, and prior months' data revised down by 258,000 jobs [1][4] - The unemployment rate remained stable at 4.2%, raising questions about the relationship between job growth and unemployment [1][4] - The stock market reacted negatively to the employment data, with major indices experiencing significant declines [4][8] Group 2 - The substantial revisions to employment data have led to skepticism regarding its accuracy and reliability [4][8] - The political context surrounding the employment data suggests it is being used as a tool for political gain, particularly by the Trump administration [7][8] - The situation highlights the intersection of economic data and political strategy, especially in the lead-up to elections [7][8]

Report Investment Rating - Gold: ★★★, indicating a more distinct long trend with relatively appropriate investment opportunities currently [1] - Silver: ★★★, indicating a more distinct long trend with relatively appropriate investment opportunities currently [1] Core View - The precious metals are in a volatile trend. With the geopolitical situation cooling down and tariff policies gradually implemented, the market focus has shifted to the US economy and the prospects of interest rate cuts. Amid continuous verification, market sentiment will face fluctuations. If the scenarios of stagflation or even recession become clearer, the upside potential for gold may be reopened. Maintain the idea of buying on dips during the precious metals' volatile trend [1] Other Key Points Economic Data and Market Reaction - Last week, the US released multiple economic data. The annualized quarterly GDP growth rate in Q2 rebounded by 3% more than expected, and the weekly initial jobless claims remained low. However, the key non - farm payrolls data changed unexpectedly. The non - farm payrolls in July increased by 73,000, far lower than the expected 110,000, and the previous two months' data was revised down by 258,000 jobs. Trump claimed that the non - farm employment data was manipulated and instructed his team to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics director immediately. The market's concerns about the authenticity of economic data and the US economic outlook have intensified [1] Fed Policy and Market Expectations - The Fed kept interest rates unchanged as expected at its July FOMC meeting. Powell reiterated that future policies will be determined based on economic data. With the significant decline in non - farm payrolls, traders fully priced in two Fed rate cuts by the end of the year, and the probability of a rate cut in September rose to 90%. Fed's Daly said that the time for rate cuts is approaching, and it is more likely to cut rates more than twice this year [1][2] Tariff - related News - The EU will suspend trade counter - measures against the US for 6 months and is waiting for Trump to take action on auto tariffs and exemptions this week. Trump said he will significantly increase tariff rates on India because the country buys Russian oil, and India responded that the accusation is baseless. The Swiss government plans to continue talks with the US after August 7 and is determined to make a more attractive proposal to the US [2]

Employment Data - The unemployment rate in the U.S. rose from 4.117% in June to 4.248% in July 2025, approaching the expected 4.2%[5] - Non-farm payrolls added 73,000 jobs in July, significantly below the expected 104,000, with prior months' data revised down by a total of 258,000 jobs[5][48] - The labor force participation rate decreased from 62.3% to 62.2% in July, with declines across three age groups, except for those aged 55 and above, which saw a 0.1 percentage point increase[7][25] Market Reactions - Following the employment data release, the probability of a rate cut in September rose to 80%, and the likelihood of two or more cuts in 2025 increased to 87%[5][11] - U.S. Treasury yields fell sharply, with the 2-year yield dropping by 25 basis points, while all major stock indices declined, with Nasdaq down 2.2%[5][12] Job Sector Analysis - In the private sector, five industries reported job losses in July, while the government sector saw a decrease of 10,000 jobs; however, private sector jobs increased by 83,000 when excluding government jobs[9][69] - The largest job gains in the private sector were in education and health services (79,000), followed by retail (16,000) and financial activities (15,000)[70] Unemployment Claims - The number of individuals receiving unemployment insurance remained stable at 1.946 million as of July 19, 2025, which is approximately 640,000 higher than the lowest point in mid-2022[10][32] - Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose slightly to 218,000 for the week ending July 26, 2025, with a monthly average of 221,000, down by 20,000 from June[10][36]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the **US Economics** sector, specifically analyzing the **2Q GDP** performance and its implications for the economy moving forward [1][6]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **GDP Growth**: The headline US GDP rose by **3.0%** quarter-over-quarter (q/q) seasonally adjusted annual rate (saar) in 2Q, a significant recovery from a **0.5%** decline in 1Q [1][9]. 2. **Domestic Demand**: Domestic demand was notably weaker, slowing to a **1.2%** pace from **2.7%** over the previous year, indicating a softening in both household and business spending [8][9]. 3. **Trade Volatility**: A **30.3%** drop in imports in 2Q, following frontloading in 1Q, artificially inflated the GDP figure, suggesting that the growth may not be sustainable [9][12]. 4. **Inflation Concerns**: Core PCE price inflation exceeded expectations at **2.54%** q/q annual rate, indicating potential upward risks to inflation forecasts [10][26]. 5. **Consumer Spending**: Real personal consumption rebounded to **1.4%** in Q2, driven by a **2.2%** increase in goods spending, particularly in motor vehicles, which rose **16.2%** [15][16]. 6. **Investment Trends**: Nonresidential fixed investment growth slowed, with structures investment declining by **10.3%** in 2Q, reflecting increased uncertainty in the private sector regarding capital spending [29][30]. 7. **Government Spending**: Government spending added modestly to growth, rising **0.4%** in 2Q, but federal spending fell **3.7%**, indicating a potential drag on future growth [28][37]. 8. **Future Outlook**: The outlook for GDP growth remains cautious, with expectations of a slowdown in the second half of the year due to restrictive trade and immigration policies [9][38]. Additional Important Insights - **Inventory Changes**: Changes in inventories contributed significantly to GDP volatility, with inventories subtracting **3.2 percentage points** from GDP in 2Q [13][39]. - **Weakness in Services**: Services spending showed a modest increase of **1.1%** in Q2, but this was still below the pace seen in 2024, indicating ongoing challenges in the services sector [17][24]. - **Residential Investment Decline**: Households sharply reduced residential investment, which fell by **4.6%** in the quarter, following a modest decline in 1Q [18][39]. - **Economic Factors**: The slowdown in economic activity is attributed to various factors, including payback effects, immigration restrictions, and policy uncertainty affecting spending and hiring plans [37][38]. This summary encapsulates the critical findings and projections discussed during the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future expectations of the US economy.

Summary of Conference Call Notes Industry or Company Involved - The discussion primarily revolves around the U.S. economy and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, particularly focusing on the implications of the "anti-involution" policy in various industries. Core Points and Arguments 1. **Anti-Involution Policy**: This policy aims to address issues of low prices and disorderly competition within specific industries, primarily targeting local governments and enterprises. It is not a macroeconomic policy but rather an industry-specific measure [2][3] 2. **Beneficiary Industries**: The industries benefiting from the anti-involution policy can be categorized into three groups: - **Group 1**: Industries with low economic activity but recovering profitability, such as wind power, rebar steel, and cement [2] - **Group 2**: Industries with bottoming fundamentals but strong expectations, including photovoltaic, general equipment, and medical devices [2] - **Group 3**: Industries with high economic activity but lacking real estate policy expectations, such as batteries and medical aesthetics [2] 3. **Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Decision**: There is a significant divergence in market opinions regarding the likelihood of a rate cut in September. However, based on economic data, the probability of a rate cut appears substantial [4][11] 4. **Economic Data Insights**: - The second quarter GDP data indicates a slowdown in U.S. economic activity, with internal demand weakening [4] - Personal consumption expenditures increased their contribution to GDP from 0.3% in Q1 to approximately 1% in Q2, while private investment stagnated, negatively impacting GDP [5] 5. **Employment Data**: The July non-farm payroll data showed a significant shortfall, with only 73,000 jobs added, indicating a sharp decline in hiring momentum [6] 6. **Labor Market Dynamics**: Job growth is concentrated in healthcare and social assistance, while goods production and federal government employment are major detractors [7] 7. **Labor Market Indicators**: The labor force participation rate has declined, and the unemployment rate has increased, particularly among Black workers. Long-term unemployment has risen, but hourly wages have been adjusted upward [8] 8. **Manufacturing and Inflation**: The manufacturing sector has shown signs of decline, with pressures on demand and employment. Inflationary pressures are expected to be manageable in the near term [10] Other Important but Possibly Overlooked Content 1. **Federal Reserve Chair Powell's Remarks**: Powell noted that the weakening supply-demand dynamics in the labor market pose risks, despite a stable unemployment rate [9] 2. **Market Reactions**: The rapid replenishment of the U.S. Treasury General Account (TGA) could lead to rising overnight financing rates, influencing the Fed's decision-making process regarding interest rates [10]

Economic Growth Insights - The actual GDP growth rate for Q2 2025 was 3%, significantly above the expected 2.6% and a recovery from the previous quarter's -0.5%[6] - Personal consumption increased by 1.4% compared to the previous quarter's 0.5%, while private investment saw a sharp decline of -15.6% from a prior growth of 23.8%[6] - Domestic final sales, which exclude trade, inventory, and government impacts, recorded a mere 1.2% growth, down from 1.9%, indicating a weakening underlying economic momentum[6] Consumption and Investment Trends - Personal consumption, a critical component of GDP, showed a slight recovery but remained low at 1.4%, with goods outperforming services[6] - Private investment's significant contraction of -15.6% contributed to a 3.1% drag on GDP, with both residential and non-residential investments shrinking for two consecutive quarters[6] - The decline in consumer confidence and income growth is expected to further suppress consumer demand moving forward[6] Inflation and Policy Outlook - The PCE price index for Q2 2025 rose to 2.6%, exceeding expectations, while the core PCE index reached 2.8%[6] - The impact of tariffs is becoming evident in consumer prices, with notable increases in durable goods and services[6] - The market may be overestimating both economic growth and inflation, with potential for monetary policy easing in 2026, contrary to current market pricing[6]

Economic Data - The US GDP for Q2 2025 showed a seasonally adjusted annualized growth rate of +3.0%, exceeding expectations of +2.4%[17] - Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) increased by 0.4% month-on-month in June, with a year-on-year increase of 4.7%[19] - Non-farm payrolls added only 73,000 jobs in July, significantly below the expected 110,000, with prior months' data revised down by a total of 258,000 jobs[27] Market Trends - The S&P 500 index decreased by 2.36% to 6238.01, while the Nasdaq index fell by 2.17% to 20650.13[2] - The US 10-year Treasury yield dropped by 17 basis points to 4.23%, and the 2-year yield fell by 22 basis points to 3.69%[2] - The US dollar index rose by 1.04% to 98.6900, indicating a stronger dollar amidst economic uncertainty[2] Inflation and Employment - The unemployment rate increased to 4.25% in July, up from 4.11% in the previous month, while the U3 unemployment rate reflects a cooling labor market[29] - Core PCE inflation rose to 2.8% year-on-year, slightly above the expected 2.7%[23] - Job openings in June decreased to 7.437 million, with a vacancy rate of 4.4%, indicating a tightening labor market[25] Policy and Trade - President Trump announced a new tariff list affecting nearly 70 countries, raising concerns about potential inflationary pressures and trade negotiations with China[3] - The Federal Reserve's decision-making is complicated by the dual pressures of weakening economic data and ongoing tariff implications, with a 80% probability of a rate cut in September following the weak non-farm payroll data[11]

Economic Overview - The actual GDP growth rate for the US in Q2 was 3%, exceeding expectations of 2.6% and the previous value of -0.5%[3] - The contribution of net exports to GDP shifted from a drag of -4.61% in Q1 to a boost of 4.99% in Q2[3] - Inventory contributions turned negative at -3.17% in Q2, compared to a positive contribution of 2.59% in Q1[3] Consumption Insights - Consumer spending showed a mild recovery with a year-on-year growth of 1.4%, up from 0.5% in the previous quarter[4] - Durable goods consumption improved from -0.28% to 0.27%, while service consumption rose from 0.30% to 0.53%[4] - Non-durable goods consumption declined, contributing 0.18% compared to 0.29% in Q1, reflecting the impact of tariff policies[4] Investment Trends - Private investment decreased significantly, with an overall growth rate of -3.09% in Q2, down from 3.9% in Q1[4] - Equipment investment's contribution to GDP fell from 1.11% to 0.26%, despite knowledge-based investments maintaining growth[4] - Residential and construction investments continued to face pressure in a high-interest-rate environment, with contributions declining further[4] Trade and Inventory Dynamics - Imports decreased by 30.3% in Q2, a smaller decline than the previous quarter's increase of 37.9%[5] - Exports turned negative at -1.8% due to the impact of tariffs, indicating a shift in trade dynamics[5] - Inventory consumption in Q2 was greater than the accumulation in Q1, contributing -3.17% to GDP[5] Government Spending - Federal government spending remained low, contributing only 0.08% to GDP, while state and local government spending increased to 0.32%[5] - Defense spending rebounded to 0.08%, while non-defense spending continued to decline[5] Future Outlook - The economic growth in Q2 relied heavily on trade fluctuations, with weak performance in consumption, investment, and government spending[11] - The expectation of continued pressure on consumption and investment in Q3 due to tariff impacts and delayed interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve[11] - The upcoming quarter is critical for assessing economic risks, particularly regarding inflation and labor market changes[12]

美国白宫国家经济委员会主任哈塞特：尽管就业报告不佳，但经济"一帆风顺"。 ...

'()*+,|-./0+ 2025-08-03 !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$ !"#$ 徐闻宇 * xuwenyu@htfc.com 从业资格号：F0299877 投资咨询号：Z0011454 蔡劭立 ( 0755-23887993 * caishaoli@htfc.com 从业资格号：F3056198 投资咨询号：Z0015616 高聪 ( 021-60828524 * gaocong@htfc.com 从业资格号：F3063338 投资咨询号：Z0016648 %&'()*&+, -./01201121289 3 !"#$ 7 月非农大幅低于预期，引发市场对 9 月降息的强烈押注，美债收益率两周内大幅下行。 美联储维持利率不变但内部现分歧，政策转向信号模糊。财政部维持发债节奏稳定但 偏向短期，TGA 余额回升、逆回购收缩加剧短期流动性不确定性。期货市场空头回补 明显，反映市场对利率下行的对冲需求上升。 %&'( ■ !"#$ 美债利率回顾。截止 8 月 1 日，10 年期美债收益率两周走低 21bp ， 10 年期美债收益率 曲线持续下行至 4.23%。收益率曲线层面，和两周前相比，2 年期美 ...