Core Points - The U.S. federal government shutdown has reached its 35th day, matching the record set from late 2018 to early 2019, significantly impacting various essential sectors such as food assistance, early education, air transport, and healthcare [1] - Millions of Americans relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have not received their benefits since November 1, leading to a complete halt in funding distribution for this critical food aid program [1] - The Trump administration announced the allocation of $4.65 billion in emergency funds to maintain approximately half of the SNAP benefits for the month, but the actual timing and amount of aid remain uncertain due to necessary system adjustments in some states [1] - The most affected groups include low-income families and those with young children, facing food shortages and economic pressure, compounded by the closure of federally funded early education institutions [1] - The shutdown has also resulted in federal employees working without pay or being furloughed, causing delays or reductions in public services such as air safety inspections, disease control, and food safety regulation [1] - Analysts warn that if the shutdown continues, the cascading impacts on the economy and public welfare will further escalate [1] Legislative Status - As of now, there is still no agreement between the two parties in Congress regarding the funding bill, and there is no clear expectation for when the federal government will resume operations [2]

Core Points - The U.S. federal government shutdown has reached its 35th day, tying the record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history [1] - The shutdown is causing significant disruptions in various sectors, including aviation, food assistance, and healthcare, leading to increased pressure on both the economy and public welfare [2] Group 1: Reasons for the Shutdown - The shutdown occurred due to the failure of budget-related bills to pass in both the House and Senate, as required by U.S. law [3] - A continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House was blocked in the Senate after 13 votes, primarily due to disagreements over the Affordable Care Act subsidies [4] - The Senate requires at least 60 votes for budget and funding bills to pass, but the Republican Party holds only 53 seats, complicating negotiations [4] Group 2: Impact of the Shutdown - Millions of low-income Americans may lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and early education centers may face closures [7] - Federal employee salary payments could be affected, and the shutdown is expected to disproportionately impact low- and middle-income individuals [8] - The government is attempting to mitigate the damage, but measures taken are insufficient to cover the expected $9 billion in SNAP benefits for November [8] Group 3: Political Dynamics - The shutdown coincides with critical local elections, making both parties reluctant to compromise [5] - House Speaker Johnson blames Democrats for the prolonged shutdown, while Democrats deny political motivations and accuse Republicans of intransigence [5] - Ongoing mutual blame between party leaders suggests that reaching an agreement to end the shutdown is unlikely in the near term [10]

Core Points - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which will stop food aid distribution starting November 1, affecting over 40 million Americans [1][2] - The USDA criticized Senate Democrats for repeatedly blocking funding proposals for SNAP, leading to the depletion of its funds [1] - Over 200 Democratic representatives urged the Agriculture Secretary to utilize emergency funds to continue food aid for November, while the USDA stated that emergency funds are legally restricted to disaster relief and cannot be used for regular welfare expenses [1][2] Group 1 - SNAP covers over 40 million people, approximately one-eighth of the U.S. population, primarily low-income individuals and people with disabilities [2] - The federal government shutdown began on October 1 after Congress failed to pass a temporary funding bill before the end of the previous fiscal year on September 30, leading to a funding crisis [2] - Some states have pledged to maintain food aid distribution if the federal government stops funding, but the legality of this action is uncertain, and the USDA will not reimburse states for any costs incurred [1]

Core Points - The U.S. Senate has rejected a temporary funding bill for the 12th time, leading to a continued government shutdown [1] - The final vote resulted in 54 votes in favor and 46 against, with three Democratic senators supporting the Republican bill, failing to reach the 60-vote threshold [1] - Since the government shutdown began, the Republican Party has been unable to attract more Democratic senators to support the funding bill [1]

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No specific industry investment rating is provided in the report. 2. Core Views - **成材**: The price of finished products is expected to move in a range-bound consolidation. The market is in a situation of weak supply and demand, with a pessimistic market sentiment, leading to a continuous downward shift in the price center. The winter storage this year is sluggish, providing limited support to prices. Attention should be paid to macro - policies and downstream demand [4]. - **铝锭**: The price of aluminum ingots is expected to remain high in the short - term and fluctuate. The short - term fundamentals are stable, but the market sentiment is affected by repeated overseas macro - interference events. Attention should be paid to macro - expectations, geopolitical crises, mine resumption, and consumption release [5]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs **成材** - **Production Disruption**: In the Yungui region, short - process construction steel enterprises will stop production for maintenance from mid - January, with a resumption around the 11th to 16th day of the first lunar month, affecting 74.1 million tons of construction steel production. In Anhui, 1 out of 6 short - process steel mills stopped production on January 5th, and most others will stop around mid - January, with a daily production impact of about 16,200 tons [3][4]. - **Real Estate Transaction**: From December 30, 2024, to January 5, 2025, the total transaction area of newly built commercial housing in 10 key cities was 2.234 million square meters, a 40.3% decrease from the previous week and a 43.2% increase year - on - year [4]. - **Market Performance**: The price of finished products continued to decline in a volatile manner yesterday, reaching a new low. The market is in a pattern of weak supply and demand, with pessimistic sentiment and low winter storage, resulting in a downward - shifting price center [4]. **铝锭** - **Macro Environment**: The market expects the Fed to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in the October meeting and again in December. The U.S. federal government shutdown has hindered the release of key macro - economic data, increasing market uncertainty about the U.S. economy [3]. - **Supply and Demand**: In October, the commissioning and resumption of replacement and technological transformation projects are expected to increase aluminum ingot production. Domestic alumina production capacity is at a high level, with a 400,000 - ton reduction in Shanxi due to the rainy season, but the supply surplus pressure remains. The overall alumina industry still has a profit, and the spot market is in a state of loose supply. The average开工率 of domestic aluminum downstream processing leading enterprises is 62.5%, a 1.4 - percentage - point decrease from the same period last year, and different sub - industries face various challenges [4]. - **Inventory**: On October 16, the inventory of electrolytic aluminum ingots in domestic mainstream consumption areas was 627,000 tons, a decrease of 23,000 tons from Monday and 22,000 tons from last Thursday [4].

Core Points - The U.S. federal government shutdown has entered its 18th day, affecting numerous federal employees, including those in critical roles at the National Nuclear Security Administration and the federal court system [1][2] - President Trump is reportedly seeking to cut infrastructure projects in Democratic-led states as a pressure tactic to push Senate Democrats to approve a temporary funding bill [1][4] Group 1: Federal Employee Impact - Approximately 1,400 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, crucial for upgrading the nuclear arsenal, are facing unpaid leave due to the shutdown [2] - The federal court system is also impacted, with 33,000 staff members facing potential unpaid leave, leading to delays in civil litigation involving federal agencies [2][3] Group 2: Infrastructure Project Cuts - Trump plans to freeze $11 billion in infrastructure projects managed by the Army Corps of Engineers in Democratic-led states, which may ultimately be canceled [4] - The projects affected include significant infrastructure works in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Massachusetts, which are essential for public safety and transportation [4][5] - Since the shutdown began, the Trump administration has frozen or canceled funding for hundreds of projects nationwide, totaling at least $28 billion, primarily in Democratic areas [5]

Core Viewpoint - The short-term performance of the Hong Kong stock market will be affected by trade frictions, which may suppress investor risk appetite and lead to market volatility. However, in the long term, the expansion of capital expenditure by global tech giants will result in a continuous emergence of new products, positively impacting the AI industry chain [1]. Group 1: Market Outlook - Trade frictions are expected to create disturbances in the short-term performance of the Hong Kong stock market [1]. - The uncertainty surrounding the duration of the U.S. federal government "shutdown" and the escalation of China-U.S. trade tensions may increase market risk aversion [1]. Group 2: Investment Opportunities - AI-related stocks in the Hong Kong market are deemed to have high attention value due to the long-term positive trends in the tech sector [1]. - Precious metals and other safe-haven assets may see opportunities as market risk aversion rises [1]. Group 3: Relevant ETFs - The Hong Kong Stock Connect Technology ETF (159101) covers the entire technology industry chain [1]. - The Hang Seng Internet ETF (513330) focuses on leading internet companies [1].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights the significant rise in gold prices, with London spot gold reaching a historical high of $4059.84 per ounce, driven by factors such as Federal Reserve interest rate cut expectations and increased tariffs in the U.S. [1] - As of October 13, the London spot gold price was reported at $4047.30 per ounce, reflecting a 0.72% increase [1] - Domestic gold jewelry prices have also risen, with brands like Chow Sang Sang and Lao Miao reporting increases in gold prices per gram [2][3] Group 2 - International gold prices have surged over 2% in the past week, influenced by strong demand from central banks and ongoing uncertainties in the global economy [12] - The price of gold has increased by 123% since 2022, with a remarkable 53% rise in 2025 alone, indicating a strong upward trend [14] - Silver prices have also seen a significant increase, with a year-to-date rise of over 70%, surpassing gold's performance [16]

Group 1: Gold Price Trends - The London spot gold price reached a historic high of $4059.84 per ounce, influenced by expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut and increased tariffs in the U.S. [1] - As of the morning of the 13th, the gold price was reported at $4047.30 per ounce, reflecting a 0.72% increase [1]. - Last week, international gold prices rose over 2%, driven by strong demand from central banks, expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, and uncertainties in the global economic outlook [9]. Group 2: Domestic Gold Jewelry Prices - Domestic gold jewelry prices have increased, with brands like Chow Sang Sang reporting a price of 1188 RMB per gram, up from 1176 RMB, marking a rise of 12 RMB per gram [3]. - Other brands such as Lao Miao and Chow Tai Fook also showed price increases, with Lao Miao at 1189 RMB per gram and Chow Tai Fook at 1190 RMB per gram [3][5]. - The price of 24K gold jewelry is currently around 1189 RMB per gram, with variations among different brands [8]. Group 3: Market Context - The U.S. stock market experienced declines last week, with the Dow Jones falling 2.73%, the S&P 500 down 2.43%, and the Nasdaq decreasing by 2.53%, amid concerns over the impact of a potential government shutdown and rising tariffs [9]. - The geopolitical landscape has also affected commodity prices, with oil prices dropping significantly due to OPEC+ production decisions and easing geopolitical tensions [10].

Core Viewpoint - The international gold price has surged, reaching a historic high of $4005.88 per ounce, driven by various economic and geopolitical factors [1] Group 1: Price Movement - On October 8, the London spot gold price hit a record high of $4005.88 per ounce, marking the first time it has crossed the $4000 threshold [1] - The New York gold futures price had previously closed above the $4000 mark [1] Group 2: Contributing Factors - The surge in gold prices is attributed to the U.S. federal government shutdown and concerns over the sustainability of U.S. debt, which present both short-term and long-term risks [1] - There is an increasing market expectation for multiple interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, further supporting the rise in gold prices [1] - Ongoing geopolitical conflicts in various regions around the world are also contributing to the upward pressure on gold prices [1]