Core Viewpoint - UBS forecasts that the US economy is expected to maintain a growth rate of around 3% over the next few quarters, supported by three main pillars: strengthened capital expenditure, structural improvements in the labor market, and adjustments in fiscal policy [1][2] Group 1: Capital Expenditure - Capital expenditure has shown significant growth of 13%-14% in the first half of the year, driven by tax incentives such as 100% expensing for capital expenditures and construction [1] - The efficiency of capital formation is seen as a key factor in driving productivity growth, with an expected annual productivity growth rate stabilizing at around 2% or slightly lower [1] Group 2: Labor Market - The labor supply growth is projected to stabilize in the range of 0.7%-0.8%, benefiting from improved legal immigration policies and increased participation rates among older individuals [1] - Structural adjustments in policies, such as the elimination of tip taxes and overtime taxes, are creating positive incentives for the labor market [1] Group 3: Fiscal Policy - The US fiscal budget showed a surplus of approximately $20 billion in June, an improvement of nearly $90 billion compared to the same period last year [1] - The withdrawal of student loan forgiveness is expected to save about $150 billion in fiscal spending this year, providing financial space for labor market expansion [1] Group 4: Counterarguments to CBO Predictions - UBS refutes the pessimistic forecasts of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), arguing that actual productivity growth is closer to 2% and labor growth can reach 0.7%-0.8%, which together support the 3% GDP growth [2] - The report criticizes the notion that tariffs have a secondary effect on inflation, stating that most tariff costs have been absorbed by exporters, with only a one-time adjustment reflected in domestic price levels [2] Group 5: Infrastructure Investment - The government is accelerating infrastructure investment by simplifying building permit processes and implementing 100% expensing policies for factories and data centers, addressing long-term weaknesses in US construction investment [2] - The expected reduction in the fiscal deficit is anticipated to be significantly smaller than last year's levels, aided by improvements in budget surplus and spending optimization [2]

Group 1 - The gold price experienced significant volatility last week, influenced by multiple factors, leading to both cautious and optimistic market outlooks [1] - Early last week, gold prices fell below the critical level of $3300 per ounce due to stronger-than-expected US GDP growth and hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell [1] - The recent revision of US non-farm payroll data altered the previously weak trend of gold prices [1] Group 2 - Citibank raised its gold price forecast for the next three months from $3300 to $3500 per ounce, adjusting the expected trading range from $3100-$3500 to $3300-$3600 [3] - Concerns regarding US economic growth and tariff-related inflation are expected to intensify in the second half of the year, alongside a weakening dollar, which will support a moderate rise in gold prices [3] - Adrian Day, President of Adrian Day Asset Management, believes that the US job market is not as stable as suggested by Powell, and the new employment data increases the likelihood of a Fed rate cut in September, which may lead to a continued rise in gold prices [3] Group 3 - Gold is traditionally viewed as a safe-haven asset during periods of political and economic uncertainty, often performing well in low-interest-rate environments [3] - David Morrison, Senior Market Analyst at Trade Nation, suggests that gold prices need to consolidate for a period before gaining momentum to break through the $3400 level [3] - Chris Vecchio, Head of Futures Strategy and Forex at Tastylive, indicates that tariffs will also have a significant impact on market confidence in gold [4]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that the market's expectation for interest rate cuts has significantly cooled following the July FOMC meeting, with indications that a rate cut in September is unlikely [2][4][8] - The FOMC has maintained the federal funds target rate at 4.25%-4.50% for the fifth consecutive meeting, which aligns with market expectations, but internal divisions within the Fed have increased, with two members supporting a 25 basis point cut [2][15][16] - The statement regarding economic growth has softened, indicating a slowdown in economic activity during the first half of the year, contrasting with previous assessments of robust expansion [2][16][17] Group 2 - Powell's press conference reflected a relatively neutral stance, acknowledging a slowdown in consumer spending while indicating that consumer conditions remain healthy [3][18][20] - The labor market is described as stable, with wage growth approaching sustainable long-term levels, although the unemployment rate's stability is partly due to synchronized declines in labor supply and demand [3][18][20] - Inflation dynamics have shifted, with service sector inflation decreasing while goods inflation is rising, influenced by tariffs and the gradual impact of restrictive monetary policy [3][20][21] Group 3 - Market expectations for rate cuts have decreased, with implied cuts for the year dropping from 1.848 to 1.445 times, and the probability of a September cut falling from 68% to 47% [4][21] - The dollar index has risen, and the yield on ten-year U.S. Treasury bonds has increased, reflecting a market interpretation of Powell's statements as leaning towards a hawkish stance [4][21] - The article suggests that political pressure is not a significant factor influencing the Fed's decisions, as Powell has maintained the Fed's independence despite external pressures [5][11][12]

Core Viewpoint - The US economy shows resilience with a projected GDP growth rate of 3.0% for Q2 2025, but underlying weaknesses in domestic demand are evident, with private sector final sales growth slowing to 1.2%, the lowest in two years [1][3][6] Economic Growth Analysis - The actual GDP for Q2 2025 rebounded to an annualized rate of 3.0%, influenced significantly by fluctuations in imports and inventory [2][6] - The contribution of private consumption to GDP remains strong, but fixed asset investments, particularly in real estate and construction, have seen consecutive quarters of negative growth [1][3] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment growth dropped sharply from 7.6% in Q1 to 0.4% in Q2, contributing only 0.08 percentage points to GDP [3] - High interest rates have notably suppressed construction and residential investments, while equipment investment growth has also slowed [3][6] Consumer Spending - Consumer spending rebounded in Q2 but remains weaker compared to 2024, with contributions to GDP fluctuating [3][6] - Durable goods consumption showed recovery, while non-durable goods consumption significantly declined [3] Government Spending - Government spending increased by 0.4% in Q2, contributing minimally to GDP growth, primarily driven by a rise in defense spending [4][6] Future Economic Outlook - The US economy is expected to face constraints in the second half of the year due to tight monetary policy and potential increases in tariffs, which could further suppress growth and raise inflation [4][6] - The "Great Beautiful Act" introduced by Trump may provide some support to economic growth, potentially increasing GDP by 0.5% by 2026 [5][6] Inflation and Monetary Policy - Inflation is anticipated to rise structurally in the second half of 2025, delaying the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts [1][6] - The potential for increased tariffs poses additional risks to both consumer purchasing power and corporate profits, which may further inhibit investment and spending [4][6]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's hawkish stance has significantly reduced expectations for a rate cut in September, with the likelihood dropping from over 65% to around 40% following Chairman Powell's comments [1][2]. Group 1: Federal Reserve's Rate Decision - The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate target range at 4.25% to 4.50%, marking the fifth consecutive decision to keep rates unchanged this year [1]. - For the first time in over 30 years, two Federal Reserve governors voted against the rate decision, advocating for a 25 basis point cut [2]. - Powell indicated that it is premature to assert whether the Fed will cut rates in September, emphasizing the need for more economic data before making a decision [2]. Group 2: Economic Indicators and Market Reactions - The U.S. economy showed signs of slowing growth, with the Fed downgrading its previous assessment of "steady growth" and acknowledging increased risks to employment goals [7]. - The June Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.7% year-on-year, with the core CPI increasing by 2.9%, slightly below expectations [8]. - Job vacancies decreased from 7.71 million in May to 7.44 million in June, supporting the view that the labor market is gradually cooling [9]. Group 3: Future Monetary Policy Outlook - The Fed's future monetary policy remains uncertain, heavily reliant on upcoming employment and inflation data [11]. - Powell highlighted the importance of timing in policy actions, warning against acting too late or too early in response to inflation [12]. - Analysts predict that the Fed may delay rate cuts longer than the market expects, with potential cuts occurring later in the year [12][13]. Group 4: Political and Economic Influences - The independence of the Federal Reserve is under scrutiny, with concerns about political interference potentially impacting monetary policy decisions [14]. - Historical precedents suggest that a lack of independence can lead to detrimental economic outcomes, emphasizing the need for the Fed to maintain its autonomy [14].

Core Viewpoint - UBS analysts suggest that the current strength of the US dollar is likely a temporary adjustment and does not indicate a reversal of its recent weakening trend [1] Group 1: Market Analysis - Investors may have closed short positions on the dollar ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting, where interest rates were maintained [1] - The expectation is that once the Federal Reserve signals a potential restart of interest rate cuts in the coming months, the dollar's weakening trend will re-emerge [1] Group 2: Economic Forecast - UBS anticipates that US economic growth will further slow down in the second half of the year compared to the first half [1] - The firm projects that the euro will rise to 1.20 against the dollar later this year [1]

Group 1: Federal Reserve Decisions - The Federal Reserve decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate in the range of 4.25%-4.5%[3] - Two Federal Reserve governors voted against the decision, advocating for a 25 basis point rate cut[6] - The assessment of economic conditions was downgraded to "growth of economic activity moderated" from "expand at a solid pace"[6] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Non-farm payrolls increased by 147,000 in June, with half of the new jobs contributed by the government, indicating a slowdown in private sector job growth[7] - The labor force participation rate has declined, and wage growth is slowing, suggesting a weakening labor market[11] - Consumer spending may have started to decline, with Q2 private domestic final purchases showing the lowest annualized growth rate since Q1 2023[13] Group 3: Inflation and Market Reactions - Inflation showed signs of rebounding in June, driven by rising energy and core commodity prices, while core services inflation remained stable[11] - Following the press conference, the market's expectation for a September rate cut dropped from over 60% to below 50%[14] - The uncertainty surrounding economic prospects remains high, with short-term inflation risks persisting due to tariff policies[14] Group 4: Risks and Outlook - Risks include potential unexpected increases in U.S. inflation, tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, and greater-than-expected economic downturns[15] - The overall economic outlook suggests continued slowing growth in the U.S. economy, influenced by policy and economic uncertainties[13]

Core Viewpoint - The impact of tariff increases on U.S. inflation is expected to peak around the end of the year, as tariffs typically take several months to fully affect consumer prices [1] Economic Outlook - The core inflation rate in the U.S. is projected to be around 3.0% this year, which will compress real income and hinder economic growth [1] - The company anticipates that U.S. economic growth will further slow down but is expected to avoid recession, with a projected real GDP growth rate of approximately 1.0% for this year [1] - As tariff pressures ease, a rebound in growth to about 1.8% is expected next year [1]

Economic Growth and Consumer Spending - The U.S. GDP for Q2 grew at an annualized rate of 3%, reversing the -0.5% contraction in Q1 and exceeding market expectations of 2.6% [2][3] - Key factors for the strong growth included a significant decline in imports and a faster increase in consumer spending, with net exports contributing 5 percentage points to GDP [3] - Consumer spending grew by 1.4%, slightly below the expected 1.5%, marking the slowest growth in two consecutive quarters [3] Inflation and Price Indices - The core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for Q2 showed an annualized quarter-on-quarter initial value of 2.5%, down from 3.5% but above the expected 2.3%, indicating a rebound in inflation [2][3] - The overall PCE price increased by 2.5% over the past 12 months, with core PCE rising by 2.7%, reflecting changes in price composition [5] Employment Data - The ADP employment report for July indicated an increase of 104,000 jobs, surpassing the expectation of 76,000, although still below last year's average levels [3][5] - The labor market remains cautious due to uncertainties surrounding tariff policies, leading to a generally weak demand for labor [3] Federal Reserve's Monetary Policy - The Federal Reserve decided to pause interest rate cuts during the July meeting, with Chairman Powell indicating that it is too early to predict a rate cut in September [4][5] - Powell noted that the current interest rate level is appropriate given the uncertainties surrounding tariffs and inflation [5] Currency and Market Dynamics - The U.S. dollar index surged over 1% on July 31, approaching the 100 mark, while U.S. Treasury yields rose across the board [2][6] - The dollar's decline earlier in the year was attributed to weak economic data and concerns over a potential recession, but recent strong economic indicators have alleviated these fears [6][7] - The resolution of trade tensions and established tariff rates among developed economies have contributed to a more stable outlook for the dollar [6][7]

Economic Overview - The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate target range at 4.25-4.5% after the July FOMC meeting, indicating a low probability of rate cuts in September[2] - The U.S. GDP growth rate for Q2 was reported at 3%, significantly higher than Q1's -0.5% and above the 2024 forecast of 2.8%[6] - A 30% decline in imports contributed positively to GDP growth, while private investment negatively impacted GDP by 3.1% in Q2[6] Employment and Inflation - The labor market remains solid, with an average monthly job addition of 150,000 and an unemployment rate steady at 4.1%[9] - Inflation is still above the 2% target, with Powell noting that service sector inflation is easing but tariffs are pushing up prices on certain goods[12][13] Monetary Policy Outlook - The likelihood of a rate cut in September is low, with Powell emphasizing the need for more economic data to assess the impact of tariffs[14] - The Fed's dual mandate focuses on price stability and maximum employment, rather than economic growth alone[14] - There were dissenting votes from two Fed officials advocating for a 25 basis point cut, marking the first time since 2020 that more than one official opposed Powell[14] Future Projections - The Fed may delay rate cuts until Q4, as it requires additional economic data to evaluate the effects of recent tariff negotiations[15] - If trade agreements are reached by August, the earliest potential rate cut could occur in October[15]