Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the economic indicators for August, highlighting a year-on-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) decrease of 0.4% and a Producer Price Index (PPI) decrease of 2.9%, which aligns closely with the company's predictions. The article emphasizes the impact of base effects on these indices and suggests a slight improvement in the economic outlook for September and beyond [1][5][19]. Summary by Sections CPI and PPI Analysis - August CPI decreased by 0.4%, lower than the predicted -0.13%, while PPI decreased by 2.9%, closely matching the forecast of -2.96%. The simulated deflation index based on CPI and PPI is approximately -1.40%, similar to the previous value of -1.44% [1][5]. - The article notes that August experienced significant base pressure for CPI and PPI, indicating a collision of the highest CPI base pressure and the largest PPI base advantage of the year [1][6]. Monthly Trends - Both CPI and PPI remained flat month-on-month in August, showing slight improvement compared to previous periods. Notably, PPI components marked the first month of positive growth in 2023, and core CPI (excluding food and energy) rose to a new high of 0.9% year-on-year [1][8][19]. - The non-food CPI segment showed weaker month-on-month performance compared to July, primarily due to the price rhythm of durable goods. Despite this, household appliances still saw a month-on-month increase of 1.1% and a year-on-year increase of 4.6% [13][14]. PPI Component Insights - The article highlights a clear stabilization in upstream prices, with mining and raw materials showing significant month-on-month positive changes. Key industries such as coal mining and black metal smelting transitioned from negative to positive growth [16][17]. - The automotive manufacturing sector continued to experience a decline of 0.3% month-on-month, primarily attributed to traditional fuel vehicles, while prices for photovoltaic equipment and new energy vehicles showed reduced year-on-year declines [16][17]. Policy Implications - The article suggests that the rising price indicators in the PMI over three consecutive months indicate initial effectiveness of the "anti-involution" policies. The PPI data for August supports this conclusion, with a clear policy direction aimed at consolidating competitive restructuring in key industries [3][19]. - Looking ahead, the company forecasts that September's CPI and PPI will benefit from favorable base effects, projecting a year-on-year CPI increase of 0.15% and a PPI decrease of 2.55%, indicating potential improvements in deflationary pressures [19][20]. Market Dynamics - The article discusses the transition from liquidity-driven asset pricing to profit-driven phases, contingent on actual and nominal growth recovery. The construction industry and PPI are identified as critical indicators for this transition [4][20].

Supply - The average operating rate of 247 sample blast furnaces nationwide decreased by 1.7 percentage points to 81.8%, which is 4.8 and 1.2 percentage points higher than the same period in 2024 and 2019, respectively[2] - The average operating rate of coking enterprises fell by 1.8 percentage points to 68.4%, which is 0.9 percentage points higher than 2024 but 4.1 percentage points lower than 2019[2] - The average operating rate of cement grinding fell by 2.3 percentage points to 40.3%, marking a new low compared to the same period in recent years, and is 10.1 and 27.4 percentage points lower than 2024 and 2019, respectively[2] Demand - New home sales in 30 major cities increased by 11.5% month-on-month, with a year-on-year increase of 2.7%[5] - The average sales area of second-hand homes in 18 cities decreased by 4.5% month-on-month but saw a year-on-year increase of 20.3%[5] - The apparent demand for steel increased by 0.1% to approximately 842.8 million tons, but the absolute value is the lowest in recent years, with a year-on-year decline of 1.6%[4] Prices - The South China Index decreased by 0.2% month-on-month, with a year-on-year increase narrowing to 4.0%[7] - Brent crude oil prices increased by 1.9% month-on-month, with a year-on-year decline narrowing to 12.4%[7] - Pork prices fell by 1.1% to approximately 19.9 yuan/kg, with a year-on-year decline expanding to 27.3%[7] Inventory - Coastal power plants' coal inventory decreased by 1.5% month-on-month, but the absolute value remains high, with a year-on-year decline of 1.2%[8] - Steel and electrolytic aluminum inventories increased by 4.7% and 6.0% month-on-month, respectively, with both being at near historical lows[8] - Asphalt inventory decreased by 7.0% month-on-month, with a year-on-year decline narrowing to 25.3%[8] Liquidity - The central bank net withdrew 10,086 billion yuan through OMO in the past half month, indicating a tightening of liquidity[10] - The issuance of local special bonds reached 4,449.9 billion yuan, with a cumulative issuance of 32,819.7 billion yuan since the beginning of the year, achieving 74.6% of the annual target[11]

Domestic Macro - Demand Side - After the summer holiday, domestic travel demand has significantly decreased, with subway passenger volume growth at -0.68% year-on-year and -7.25% month-on-month as of September 6[2] - In August, retail sales of passenger cars reached 1.952 million units, a year-on-year increase of 2.2% and a month-on-month increase of 6.4%[2] - Export resilience is noted, with the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) averaging 1978.4, down 1.15% month-on-month but up 0.54% year-on-year[2] Domestic Macro - Production Side - Production generally declined in the first week of September, with average blast furnace operating rates down 3.09 percentage points to 80.38%[3] - The chemical industry shows a significant downturn, with PTA production and operating rates down 7.76% and 11.71 percentage points respectively, falling below 70% for the first time this year[3] - The construction sector remains sluggish, with rebar operating rates averaging 42.28%, down 1.6 percentage points[3] Price Performance - Pork prices have seen a narrowing decline, while fruit and vegetable prices have risen, with key monitored vegetable prices up 3.47% and fruit prices up 1.28% as of September 5[3] - WTI crude oil prices decreased by 0.38% and Brent crude by 1.01% as of September 5, reflecting a general decline in black commodity prices[3] Fiscal and Monetary Policy - The issuance of government bonds has accelerated, with 820 billion yuan in special bonds and 2.671 trillion yuan in regular bonds issued this week, achieving 70.6% of the annual issuance target[3] - The People's Bank of China is expected to restart government bond purchases, signaling a more accommodative monetary policy[3] International Macro - The U.S. labor market shows significant weakness, with only 22,000 jobs added in August, far below the expected 75,000, and the unemployment rate rising to 4.3%[1] - The probability of a 50 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in 2025 is high due to ongoing economic slowdown and policy pressures from the Trump administration[1]

Group 1: Report Investment Rating - No investment rating information provided Group 2: Core Viewpoints - The silicon-manganese market is expected to oscillate between 5800 and 6000. The macro environment has policy information disturbances, causing the market to fluctuate between long and short positions. The strengthening of coal supports the rebound of alloys [6]. Group 3: Summary by Directory 1. Weekly Summary - **Macro**: China's electricity consumption accounts for 30% of terminal energy consumption, higher than the world average, and is expected to exceed 40% by 2035. Baosteel identified long products and thick plates as new strategic core products. The personal mortgage loan balance of six major state-owned banks decreased by 107.8 billion yuan compared to the beginning of the year, showing a three - year downward trend [6]. - **Overseas**: The US postponed trade threats against China and considered sanctions on Russia. Trump signed a US - Japan trade executive order, imposing up to 15% tariffs on most Japanese products. Many Asian and Middle Eastern investment institutions are avoiding US assets due to concerns about Trump's policies [6]. - **Supply and Demand**: Since mid - May, production has been on the rise. After the price rebound, inventory has decreased for 5 consecutive weeks to a neutral level. The port inventory of imported manganese ore decreased by 3200 tons. Downstream hot metal production dropped significantly due to military parade production control. The spot profit in Inner Mongolia is - 110 yuan/ton, and in Ningxia is - 410 yuan/ton. The steel mill procurement tender price in August increased by 150 yuan/ton month - on - month [6]. - **Technical**: The weekly K - line of the manganese - silicon main contract is below the 60 - day moving average, indicating a bearish weekly trend [6]. - **Strategy**: Considering the macro environment, the market is volatile. Coal strength supports alloy rebound. The silicon - manganese market is expected to oscillate between 5800 and 6000 [6]. 2. Futures and Spot Market - **Futures Market**: As of September 5, the open interest of silicon - manganese futures contracts was 570,700 lots, an increase of 24,573 lots. The spread between the May - 1st contracts of silicon - manganese decreased by 4 points. The number of silicon - manganese warehouse receipts decreased by 3707 to 62,860, and the spread between the January contracts of silicon - manganese and ferrosilicon increased by 32 points to 290 [12][16]. - **Spot Market**: As of September 5, the spot price of silicon - manganese in Inner Mongolia was 5670 yuan/ton, a decrease of 50 yuan/ton. The basis was - 244 yuan/ton, a decrease of 172 points [23]. 3. Industrial Chain - **Production**: According to Mysteel, the national capacity utilization rate of 187 independent silicon - manganese enterprises was 46.45%, a decrease of 0.55%. The daily average output was 30,405 tons, a decrease of 80 tons. The weekly demand for silicon - manganese in five major steel types decreased by 2.36% to 123,668 tons, and the national weekly supply decreased by 0.26% to 212,835 tons. Production has generally been rising since mid - May, with a slight decline this period [26]. - **Inventory**: As of September 4, the total inventory of 63 independent silicon - manganese enterprises (accounting for 79.77% of national capacity) was 160,500 tons, an increase of 11,500 tons. Inventory in Inner Mongolia decreased by 2000 tons, while that in Ningxia increased by 11,000 tons, etc. [31]. - **Upstream**: As of September 5, the price of South32 South African semi - carbonate lump at Tianjin Port was 33.8 yuan/ton - degree, a decrease of 0.4 yuan/ton - degree. As of September 1, the electricity prices in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia remained unchanged. The port inventory of imported manganese ore decreased by 32,000 tons to 4.414 million tons. The arrival of South African manganese ore increased by 35% to 506,900 tons, while that from Australia decreased by 87.4% to 20,900 tons, etc. On September 5, the spot production cost in the northern region decreased by 10 to 5830 yuan/ton, and the profit was - 205 yuan/ton, a decrease of 50 yuan/ton; in the southern region, the cost decreased by 10 to 6240 yuan/ton, and the profit was - 580 yuan/ton, a decrease of 50 yuan/ton [33][41][44]. - **Downstream**: The daily average hot metal output of 247 steel mills was 2.2884 million tons, a decrease of 112,900 tons week - on - week but an increase of 62,300 tons year - on - year. The silicon - manganese tender price of HBIS in August was 6000 yuan/ton, an increase of 150 yuan/ton compared to July [48].

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Aluminum: Cautiously bullish [8] - Alumina: Neutral [8] - Aluminum alloy: Cautiously bullish [8] 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - For electrolytic aluminum, the macro - environment drives the rise in non - ferrous metal prices, with a weak spot market. Supply remains stable, consumption shows improvement, and the inventory build - up rate slows, with expected destocking. Overseas consumption is strong, and there is an increased expectation of interest rate cuts [6]. - Regarding alumina, the adjustment of Xinjiang delivery premium may create arbitrage opportunities. The cost side has support, and although the supply - demand balance is slightly in surplus, considering multiple factors, the price should be treated neutrally [6][7]. - For aluminum alloy, scrap aluminum supply is tight, but production profit has recovered, indicating consumption recovery. The increase in social inventory is due to the transformation of invisible inventory to visible inventory [7]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Important Data - **Aluminum Spot**: On September 4, 2025, the price of East China A00 aluminum was 20,610 yuan/ton, a change of - 120 yuan/ton from the previous trading day; the spot premium was - 20 yuan/ton, a change of 10 yuan/ton. The price of Central Plains A00 aluminum was 20,470 yuan/ton, and the spot premium was - 160 yuan/ton, a change of 30 yuan/ton. The price of Foshan A00 aluminum was 20,560 yuan/ton, a change of - 110 yuan/ton, and the spot premium was - 70 yuan/ton, a change of 15 yuan/ton [1]. - **Aluminum Futures**: On September 4, 2025, the main contract of SHFE aluminum opened at 20,710 yuan/ton, closed at 20,605 yuan/ton, a change of - 160 yuan/ton. The highest price was 20,765 yuan/ton, and the lowest was 20,525 yuan/ton. The trading volume was 151,216 lots, and the open interest was 206,617 lots [2]. - **Inventory**: As of September 4, 2025, the domestic social inventory of electrolytic aluminum ingots was 626,000 tons, a change of 0.3 tons; the warrant inventory was 59,583 tons, a change of 26 tons; the LME aluminum inventory was 479,600 tons, with no change [2]. - **Alumina Spot Price**: On September 4, 2025, the price of alumina in Shanxi was 3,140 yuan/ton, Shandong was 3,120 yuan/ton, Henan was 3,160 yuan/ton, Guangxi was 3,270 yuan/ton, Guizhou was 3,280 yuan/ton, and the FOB price of Australian alumina was 368 US dollars/ton [2]. - **Alumina Futures**: On September 4, 2025, the main contract of alumina opened at 2,998 yuan/ton, closed at 2,980 yuan/ton, a change of - 44 yuan/ton or - 1.46%. The highest price was 2,998 yuan/ton, and the lowest was 2,954 yuan/ton. The trading volume was 279,608 lots, and the open interest was 251,793 lots [2]. - **Aluminum Alloy Price**: On September 4, 2025, the purchase price of Baotai civil raw aluminum was 15,900 yuan/ton, and the purchase price of mechanical raw aluminum was 16,100 yuan/ton, with no change from the previous day. The price of ADC12 Baotai was 20,300 yuan/ton, with no change [3]. - **Aluminum Alloy Inventory**: The social inventory of aluminum alloy was 57,900 tons, and the in - plant inventory was 59,000 tons [4]. - **Aluminum Alloy Cost and Profit**: The theoretical total cost was 20,203 yuan/ton, and the theoretical profit was 197 yuan/ton [5]. 3.2 Market Analysis - **Electrolytic Aluminum**: The macro - environment drives the rise in non - ferrous metal prices, while the spot market is weak. Supply is stable, consumption is improving, and the inventory build - up rate slows, with expected destocking. Overseas consumption is strong, and there is an increased expectation of interest rate cuts [6]. - **Alumina**: A northwest aluminum plant purchased 10,000 tons of alumina at 3,230 yuan/ton, equivalent to a Shanxi ex - factory price of 3,060 yuan/ton. The adjustment of Xinjiang delivery premium by the SHFE may create arbitrage opportunities. The cost side has support, and although the supply - demand balance is slightly in surplus, considering multiple factors, the price should be treated neutrally [6][7]. - **Aluminum Alloy**: Scrap aluminum supply is tight, but production profit has recovered, indicating consumption recovery. The increase in social inventory is due to the transformation of invisible inventory to visible inventory [7]. 3.3 Strategy - **Single - side Strategy**: Bullish on aluminum, neutral on alumina, and bullish on aluminum alloy [8]. - **Arbitrage Strategy**: Long - short arbitrage in SHFE aluminum, long AD11 and short AL11, and reverse arbitrage between January and March contracts of alumina [8]

Economic Indicators - The official manufacturing PMI for August is 49.4%, a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points from July[4] - Industrial value-added growth for August is projected at approximately 5.2% year-on-year[9] - Retail sales growth is expected to be around 4% year-on-year for August[9] Production and Investment - The production index rose to 50.8%, while new orders improved slightly to 49.5%[4] - Fixed asset investment growth is estimated at 2% year-on-year for August, with manufacturing investment at 6.4%[5] - The top 100 real estate companies' sales in August amounted to approximately 207.04 billion yuan, down 1.9% month-on-month and 17.6% year-on-year[8] Price Trends - CPI for August is expected to remain at 0.0% year-on-year, while PPI is projected to decline by 2.9% year-on-year[9][20] - The purchasing price index increased significantly to 53.3%, indicating rising costs in the manufacturing sector[4] Consumption and Services - August saw a strong performance in service consumption, with cinema box office revenues around 5.987 billion yuan and over 150 million attendees[7] - Passenger transport volumes in civil aviation and railways reached record highs for the same period, driven by summer travel[7] Risks and Outlook - The overall economic outlook remains stable compared to July, but the manufacturing sector has been in contraction for five consecutive months, indicating weak market demand[8] - Continued adjustments in the real estate market are expected to impact overall domestic demand significantly[8]

Core Viewpoint - The AI Fund Xin'ao New Energy Industry Stock A (001410) reported a profit of 286 million yuan for the first half of 2025, with a weighted average profit per fund share of 0.1512 yuan, and a net asset value growth rate of 3.95% during the reporting period [2][5]. Fund Performance - As of September 3, 2025, the fund's unit net value was 4.553 yuan, with a one-year cumulative net value growth rate of 76.27%, ranking first among comparable funds [2][5]. - The fund's performance over the last three months showed a net value growth rate of 29.09%, ranking 9th out of 61 comparable funds, while the six-month growth rate was 13.71%, ranking 42nd [5]. Fund Management and Market Outlook - The fund manager, Feng Mingyuan, expressed optimism about the macroeconomic and securities market trends for the second half of the year and next year, attributing this to positive fiscal and monetary policies since the second half of 2024 [2]. Valuation Metrics - As of June 30, 2025, the fund's weighted average price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was approximately 55.47, significantly higher than the industry average of 20.85 [10]. - The weighted average price-to-book (P/B) ratio was about 3.68, compared to the industry average of 2.12, and the weighted average price-to-sales (P/S) ratio was 2.07, against an industry average of 1.66 [10]. Growth Metrics - For the first half of 2025, the fund's weighted average revenue growth rate was 0.35%, and the weighted average net profit growth rate was 0.17% [17]. Risk and Return Metrics - The fund's three-year Sharpe ratio was 0.087, ranking 34th among comparable funds, while the maximum drawdown over the same period was 49.4%, ranking 4th out of 59 [25][27]. - The fund's turnover rate for the last six months was approximately 165.37%, consistently above the industry average for two years [38]. Fund Size and Shareholder Composition - As of June 30, 2025, the fund's total size was 6.864 billion yuan, with 486,200 holders collectively owning 1.787 billion shares [31][35]. - Individual investors held 95.41% of the shares, while institutional investors accounted for 4.59% [35]. Top Holdings - The top ten holdings of the fund included companies such as Huqin Technology, Huahong Semiconductor, and others, indicating a focus on technology and automotive sectors [40].

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - The current oil price has been relatively undervalued, presenting a good opportunity for left - hand side layout. The fundamentals will support the current price, and if the geopolitical premium re - emerges, the oil price will have more upside potential [6]. - For methanol, supply pressure is increasing, the market is weak, and it is advisable to wait and see for now [3]. - Regarding urea, it is currently in a situation of low valuation and weak drivers, with limited downside space. It is recommended to focus on going long at low prices [5]. - For rubber, the medium - term view is bullish. In the short - term, the rubber price is expected to be strong, and it is advisable to go long on dips with quick entry and exit. Partially close the position of going long RU2601 and shorting RU2509 [13]. - For PVC, the domestic situation is one of strong supply, weak demand, and high valuation, with a weakening export outlook. It is recommended to look for opportunities to short on rallies [15]. - For styrene, the BZN spread is expected to recover in the long - term. When the inventory starts to decline, the styrene price may rebound [18]. - For polyethylene, the long - term contradiction has shifted from cost - driven downward movement to the Korean ethylene clearance policy, and the price is expected to fluctuate upwards [20]. - For polypropylene, in the context of weak supply and demand with high inventory pressure and no prominent short - term contradictions, it is recommended to go long on the LL - PP2601 contract at low prices [21]. - For PX, although there is currently a lack of upward drivers, the terminal and polyester data are gradually improving, and there is support at the lower end of the valuation. It is advisable to follow the trend of crude oil and look for opportunities to go long at low prices during the peak season [23]. - For PTA, the supply has shifted from inventory accumulation to de - stocking, and the demand side is improving. It is recommended to follow PX and look for opportunities to go long at low prices [25]. - For ethylene glycol, the supply is still in excess, and there is downward pressure on the valuation in the medium - term [26]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs 3.1 Crude Oil - **Market Quotes**: The main INE crude oil futures closed up 3.40 yuan/barrel, or 0.69%, at 493.20 yuan/barrel. The main futures of related refined oils, high - sulfur fuel oil, closed down 1.00 yuan/ton, or 0.04%, at 2840.00 yuan/ton, and low - sulfur fuel oil closed down 30.00 yuan/ton, or 0.85%, at 3512.00 yuan/ton [1]. - **Data**: According to the US EIA weekly data, US commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 2.39 million barrels to 418.29 million barrels, a month - on - month decrease of 0.57%; SPR increased by 0.78 million barrels to 404.20 million barrels, a month - on - month increase of 0.19%; gasoline inventories decreased by 1.24 million barrels to 222.33 million barrels, a month - on - month decrease of 0.55%; diesel inventories decreased by 1.79 million barrels to 114.24 million barrels, a month - on - month decrease of 1.54%; fuel oil inventories increased by 0.32 million barrels to 20.13 million barrels, a month - on - month increase of 1.60%; aviation kerosene inventories increased by 0.29 million barrels to 43.59 million barrels, a month - on - month increase of 0.68% [1]. 3.2 Methanol - **Market Quotes**: On September 3, the 01 contract rose 10 yuan/ton to 2382 yuan/ton, and the spot price rose 15 yuan/ton, with a basis of - 132 [3]. - **Supply**: Domestic production has further increased, and there is still room for improvement in the future. Import arrivals have increased, and port inventories have accumulated to a high level [3]. - **Demand**: The profit of port MTO has continued to improve, but demand is weak. Traditional demand has not improved significantly, and overall downstream performance is average [3]. - **Strategy**: Temporarily wait and see [3]. 3.3 Urea - **Market Quotes**: On September 3, the 01 contract fell 32 yuan/ton to 1714 yuan/ton, and the spot price remained unchanged, with a basis of - 14. The futures price broke through the support level on Wednesday, while the spot price remained stable, and the basis strengthened [5]. - **Supply**: The number of maintenance devices has increased, domestic production has decreased, and short - term supply pressure has been relieved. However, enterprise profits are still at a medium - low level [5]. - **Demand**: The production of compound fertilizers has peaked and declined, and domestic agricultural demand has entered the off - season. Exports have increased, and port inventories have risen rapidly. Currently, demand is mainly concentrated in exports [5]. - **Inventory**: Although domestic supply has decreased, demand is weak, and enterprise inventories are at a high level compared to the same period last year [5]. - **Strategy**: It is recommended to focus on going long at low prices [5]. 3.4 Rubber - **Market Quotes**: NR and RU fluctuated and consolidated [8]. - **Factor Analysis**: Due to heavy rain in Thailand in the next 2 - 10 days, the risk of floods has increased, which may cause the rubber price to rise. Bulls believe that factors such as weather and rubber forest conditions in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, may limit rubber production growth, the seasonal pattern usually turns bullish in the second half of the year, and China's demand is expected to improve. Bears believe that macro - economic expectations are uncertain, demand is in the seasonal off - season, and the positive impact of supply may be less than expected [8][9]. - **Industry Data**: As of August 28, 2025, the operating rate of all - steel tires of Shandong tire enterprises was 62.78%, 1.76 percentage points lower than the previous week and 3.95 percentage points higher than the same period last year. All - steel tire exports were good. The operating rate of semi - steel tires of domestic tire enterprises was 74.57%, 0.19 percentage points higher than the previous week and 4.06 percentage points lower than the same period last year. The downstream inventory of semi - steel tire factories was slow to consume. As of August 31, 2025, China's natural rubber social inventory was 126.5 million tons, a decrease of 0.6 million tons or 0.5% from the previous month. China's total social inventory of dark - colored rubber was 79.6 million tons, a month - on - month decrease of 0.09%. China's total social inventory of light - colored rubber was 46.8 million tons, a month - on - month decrease of 1.1%. As of August 31, 2025, the inventory of natural rubber in Qingdao was 47.34 (- 0.36) million tons [11]. - **Spot Prices**: Thai standard mixed rubber was 14880 (+ 30) yuan, STR20 was reported at 1830 (+ 0) US dollars, STR20 mixed was 1840 (+ 5) US dollars, butadiene in Jiangsu and Zhejiang was 9400 (+ 50) yuan, and cis - polybutadiene in North China was 11650 (0) yuan [12]. - **Strategy**: The medium - term view is bullish. In the short - term, the rubber price is expected to be strong, and it is advisable to go long on dips with quick entry and exit. Partially close the position of going long RU2601 and shorting RU2509 [13]. 3.5 PVC - **Market Quotes**: The PVC01 contract fell 10 yuan to 4878 yuan. The spot price of Changzhou SG - 5 was 4680 (0) yuan/ton, the basis was - 198 (+ 10) yuan/ton, and the 1 - 5 spread was - 294 (0) yuan/ton [15]. - **Cost**: The cost side remained stable, with the price of calcium carbide in Wuhai at 2300 (0) yuan/ton, the price of medium - grade semi - coke at 660 (0) yuan/ton, and the price of ethylene at 840 (0) US dollars/ton. The spot price of caustic soda was 870 (0) yuan/ton [15]. - **Supply**: The overall operating rate of PVC was 76%, a month - on - month decrease of 1.6%. Among them, the operating rate of the calcium carbide method was 77.3%, a month - on - month increase of 0.4%, and the operating rate of the ethylene method was 73%, a month - on - month decrease of 6.6% [15]. - **Demand**: The overall downstream operating rate was 42.6%, a month - on - month decrease of 0.1% [15]. - **Inventory**: Factory inventory was 31.2 million tons (+ 0.6), and social inventory was 89.6 million tons (+ 4.4) [15]. - **Strategy**: In the domestic situation of strong supply, weak demand, and high valuation, with a weakening export outlook and poor fundamentals, it is recommended to look for opportunities to short on rallies [15]. 3.6 Styrene - **Market Quotes**: The spot price fell, the futures price rose, and the basis weakened [17]. - **Factor Analysis**: Currently, the BZN spread is at a relatively low level compared to the same period, with a large upward adjustment space. The production of pure benzene has been fluctuating at a moderate level, and the supply is still abundant. The profit of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation has increased, and styrene production has continued to rise. Styrene port inventories have continued to accumulate significantly. At the end of the seasonal off - season, the overall operating rate of the three S products has been rising [18]. - **Fundamentals**: The price of pure benzene in East China was 5810 yuan/ton, unchanged; the spot price of styrene was 7000 yuan/ton, a decrease of 50 yuan/ton; the closing price of the active styrene contract was 7040 yuan/ton, an increase of 106 yuan/ton; the basis was - 40 yuan/ton, a weakening of 156 yuan/ton; the BZN spread was 127.5 yuan/ton, a decrease of 9.25 yuan/ton; the profit of non - integrated EB plants was - 344.9 yuan/ton, an increase of 90 yuan/ton; the spread between EB contract 1 and contract 2 was 69 yuan/ton, a narrowing of 19 yuan/ton; the upstream operating rate was 78.1%, a decrease of 0.40%; the inventory in Jiangsu ports was 19.65 million tons, an increase of 1.75 million tons; the weighted operating rate of the three S products was 43.84%, an increase of 0.24%; the operating rate of PS was 59.90%, an increase of 2.40%, the operating rate of EPS was 58.35%, a decrease of 2.63%, and the operating rate of ABS was 70.80%, a decrease of 0.30% [18]. - **Outlook**: In the long - term, the BZN spread is expected to recover. When the inventory starts to decline, the styrene price may rebound [18]. 3.7 Polyolefins 3.7.1 Polyethylene - **Market Quotes**: The futures price fell [20]. - **Factor Analysis**: The market is expecting favorable policies from the Chinese Ministry of Finance in the third quarter, and there is still support on the cost side. The spot price of polyethylene has remained unchanged, and the downward space for PE valuation is limited. There is only 400,000 tons of planned production capacity left, and the overall inventory has decreased from a high level, providing support for the price. The seasonal peak season may be approaching, and the procurement of raw materials for agricultural films has started, with the overall operating rate stabilizing at a low level [20]. - **Fundamentals**: The closing price of the main contract was 7247 yuan/ton, a decrease of 5 yuan/ton, the spot price was 7250 yuan/ton, unchanged; the basis was 3 yuan/ton, a strengthening of 5 yuan/ton. The upstream operating rate was 81.09%, a month - on - month increase of 0.07%. In terms of weekly inventory, the production enterprise inventory was 45.08 million tons, an increase of 2.38 million tons, and the trader inventory was 5.85 million tons, a decrease of 0.12 million tons. The average downstream operating rate was 40.5%, a month - on - month increase of 0.20%. The LL1 - 5 spread was 7 yuan/ton, a month - on - month narrowing of 1 yuan/ton [20]. - **Outlook**: The long - term contradiction has shifted from cost - driven downward movement to the Korean ethylene clearance policy, and the price is expected to fluctuate upwards [20]. 3.7.2 Polypropylene - **Market Quotes**: The futures price rose [21]. - **Factor Analysis**: There is still 1.45 million tons of planned production capacity, resulting in relatively high supply pressure. On the demand side, the downstream operating rate has rebounded from a seasonal low. In the context of weak supply and demand, the overall inventory pressure is high, and there are no prominent short - term contradictions [21]. - **Fundamentals**: The closing price of the main contract was 6954 yuan/ton, an increase of 11 yuan/ton, the spot price was 6990 yuan/ton, unchanged; the basis was 36 yuan/ton, a weakening of 11 yuan/ton. The upstream operating rate was 80.42%, a month - on - month decrease of 0.19%. In terms of weekly inventory, the production enterprise inventory was 55 million tons, an increase of 1.15 million tons, the trader inventory was 19.30 million tons, an increase of 2.48 million tons, and the port inventory was 5.85 million tons, a decrease of 0.18 million tons. The average downstream operating rate was 49.74%, a month - on - month increase of 0.21%. The LL - PP spread was 293 yuan/ton, a month - on - month narrowing of 16 yuan/ton [21]. - **Strategy**: It is recommended to go long on the LL - PP2601 contract at low prices [21]. 3.8 Polyester 3.8.1 PX - **Market Quotes**: The PX11 contract fell 24 yuan to 6810 yuan, the PX CFR price fell 3 US dollars to 843 US dollars, the basis was 99 yuan (+ 1) after conversion at the RMB central parity rate, and the 11 - 1 spread was 48 yuan (- 4) [23]. - **Supply**: The operating rate in China was 83.3%, a month - on - month decrease of 1.3%, and the operating rate in Asia was 75.6%, a month - on - month decrease of 0.7%. There were few changes in domestic plants [23]. - **Demand**: The operating rate of PTA was 70.4%, a month - on - month decrease of 2.5%. Some PTA plants had maintenance or unexpected shutdowns, while others were in the process of restarting or commissioning [23]. - **Import**: In August, South Korea exported 37.6 million tons of PX to China, an increase of 0.2 million tons compared to the same period last year [23]. - **Inventory**: At the end of July, the inventory was 389.9 million tons, a month - on - month decrease of 24 million tons [23]. - **Valuation and Cost**: The PXN was 246 US dollars (- 6), and the naphtha crack spread was 94 US dollars (- 3) [23]. - **，**: Currently, the PX operating rate remains high, and there have been many unexpected short - term maintenance of downstream PTA plants, with the overall operating rate at a low level. However, due to the commissioning of new PTA plants, PX is expected to maintain low inventory levels, and the terminal and polyester data are gradually improving, providing support for the valuation at the lower end. However, due to the lack of upward drivers currently and the reduction in the amount of unexpected PTA maintenance compared to previous expectations, the PXN has limited upward momentum. The valuation is currently at a moderate level, and the terminal and polyester are expected to continue to recover. It is advisable to follow the trend of crude oil and look for opportunities to go long at low prices during the

Group 1 - The core economic data shows that in the first half of 2025, China's GDP reached 66,053.6 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 5.3% at constant prices [1] - Despite positive macroeconomic data, many individuals feel that business conditions are poor, particularly in the real estate sector, which continues to decline [1] - A-share companies reported a total operating revenue of 34.99 trillion yuan in the first half of 2025, reflecting a slight increase of 0.02% year-on-year, while net profit attributable to parent companies was 2.99 trillion yuan, up 2.45% year-on-year [5][6] Group 2 - The performance of A-share companies varies significantly across different industries, indicating diverse perceptions of the macroeconomic situation [7] - In the first half of 2025, 30 out of 31 industries reported positive net profit, with the agriculture, steel, building materials, computer, and non-ferrous metals sectors showing net profit growth exceeding 36% [7] - The real estate sector remains sluggish, with a reported decline in national real estate development investment by 11.2% and a decrease in new housing sales area by 3.5% [9] - A-share real estate companies collectively reported a net loss of 38.3 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, nearly doubling the loss from the previous year [9]

Group 1 - The best time to buy gold typically occurs during periods of price lows, low market risk sentiment, and strong dollar and real interest rates putting pressure on gold prices [1][3] - When international gold prices adjust due to short-term economic data or policy expectations, but long-term demand logic remains intact, it is often the best time for rational investment [1][3] - If precise short-term fluctuations cannot be predicted, strategies such as dollar-cost averaging or phased buying can help smooth costs and reduce the risk of one-time purchases [1][3] Group 2 - Key factors influencing the timing of gold purchases include price trends, market environment, and macroeconomic conditions [3] - Price factors are fundamental for choosing when to buy gold, as significant price fluctuations require understanding price ranges [4][5] - When international gold prices decline more than 5%-10% from recent highs and stabilize at key support levels, it often indicates undervaluation, suggesting phased buying [5][6] Group 3 - The long-term trend of gold is closely related to the global economic environment [6][7] - A strong dollar index or a Federal Reserve rate hike cycle tends to put pressure on gold prices, making it a potentially lower-cost buying opportunity [7][8] - When inflation rises, financial markets become unstable, or geopolitical risks emerge, demand for gold significantly increases, leading to potential price rises, thus making early positioning advisable [8][9] Group 4 - Market sentiment often amplifies price volatility, and during overly optimistic periods, it is unwise to chase high prices [9][10] - When trading in the gold market is quiet, and mainstream analysis is cautious or pessimistic, it often indicates that prices are nearing undervaluation, presenting a more stable buying opportunity [10]