Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve has initiated a rate cut, reflecting its "survival wisdom" under political pressure from the White House, particularly from Trump, who has remained unusually silent on the matter [1][4][6]. Group 1: Federal Reserve's Decision - The Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates by 25 basis points was passed with a surprising 11-1 vote, showcasing unexpected unity within the institution despite external pressures [2][10]. - Powell characterized the rate cut as a "risk management decision," indicating that the Fed believes its policies have been on the right track this year [6][19]. - The recent adjustment comes amid a backdrop of significant downward revisions in non-farm employment data, with a reduction of 910,000 jobs, highlighting the economic challenges faced [7][19]. Group 2: Political Dynamics - The meeting was described as a "showdown" between the Federal Reserve and the White House, with Powell managing to maintain internal unity despite the political climate [9][10]. - The vote reflected a temporary victory for the Fed's independence, as the majority of members supported the rate cut despite potential pressures from Trump [10][12]. - The only dissenting vote came from a newly appointed member who advocated for a more aggressive 50 basis point cut, indicating ongoing divisions within the Fed [11][13]. Group 3: Economic Implications - The rate cut is seen as a preventive measure to safeguard economic growth before a potential recession, with Powell acknowledging signs of a weakening job market [18][19]. - Historical precedents for preventive rate cuts have led to varied outcomes, including soft landings, recessions, and high inflation, raising questions about the current economic trajectory [21][26]. - Analysts express concerns that the current economic issues stem from rising costs rather than insufficient demand, suggesting that excessive monetary easing could exacerbate inflation [27][28].

Core Viewpoint - The September FOMC meeting highlighted the risks of employment slowdown and raised the expectation for interest rate cuts in 2025, indicating a cautious but dovish stance from the Federal Reserve [1][2][3]. Economic Predictions - The FOMC's statement emphasized the risks of employment decline, removing the phrase "labor market remains robust" and adding concerns about "slowing job growth" and "increased risks to employment" [2]. - Economic forecasts were improved, with GDP projections for 2025, 2026, and 2027 raised, while the unemployment rate for 2026 and 2027 was slightly lowered. The core PCE forecast for 2026 was also increased [2]. Interest Rate Projections - The dot plot indicated an increase in the expected number of rate cuts in 2025 from 2 to 3, with further divergence in future expectations among FOMC members [2]. - The FOMC members anticipate 2 more cuts this year, 1 cut in 2026, and 2 cuts in 2027, reflecting increasing internal disagreement [2]. Powell's Statements - Chairman Powell described the rate cut as a "risk management cut," indicating no need for a significant reduction at this time and emphasizing that future decisions will depend on data [3]. - Powell noted that while the unemployment rate remains low, it has begun to rise, attributing the slowdown in job growth to factors such as reduced immigration and declining labor force participation, as well as potential impacts from AI [3]. Market Reactions - Following the FOMC announcement, U.S. Treasury yields rose, and stock markets showed mixed results, with gold prices declining. The market reacted to Powell's cautious tone regarding future rate cuts and the balance between employment and inflation targets [4]. - CME data indicated increased market confidence in two more rate cuts this year, although expectations for cuts in 2026 were pushed back [4]. Future Rate Cut Scenarios - Three potential scenarios for future rate cuts were outlined: 1. **Soft Landing Scenario**: The U.S. economy achieves a soft landing without major recession or stagflation, with two more cuts this year and three in 2025, influenced by political pressures [5][6]. 2. **Recession Scenario**: A significant economic downturn occurs, leading to a sharp rise in unemployment or a stock market crash, prompting the Fed to implement substantial cuts [5]. 3. **High Inflation Scenario**: A historic high inflation or stagflation situation forces the Fed to prioritize inflation control, maintaining high rates for an extended period [6]. - The soft landing scenario is considered the base case with the highest probability, while the recession and high inflation scenarios are viewed as less likely at this time [6].

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve's September FOMC meeting resulted in a 25 basis point cut to the federal funds target rate, marking the first rate cut of the year, with expectations for two more cuts in 2025 [1][8] - The FOMC statement highlighted the risks of slowing employment growth, removing previous language indicating a solid labor market, and introducing concerns about downside risks to employment [1][8] - Economic projections were adjusted, with GDP forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 being raised, while unemployment rates for 2026 and 2027 were slightly lowered [9][10] Group 2 - Chairman Powell described the rate cut as a "risk management cut," indicating that there was no need for a significant reduction in rates and that future rate paths remain uncertain [2][13] - Powell noted that while the unemployment rate is still low, it has begun to rise, and employment growth is slowing due to factors such as reduced immigration and declining labor force participation [2][13] - Inflation expectations were adjusted, with Powell suggesting that the impact of tariffs on inflation is likely to be temporary, although there are still concerns about persistent inflation risks [2][13] Group 3 - Market reactions included a rise in U.S. Treasury yields and mixed performance in the stock market, reflecting the cautious tone of Powell regarding future rate cuts [3][14] - Following the FOMC announcement, market confidence in two additional rate cuts this year increased, with the probability of the federal funds rate reaching a range of 3.5%-3.75% by year-end rising to 79.9% [15][16] Group 4 - Three potential scenarios for future rate cuts were outlined: 1. Soft landing scenario, predicting two more cuts this year and three in 2026, with a stable economic outlook [4][19] 2. Recession scenario, where significant economic deterioration could lead to a larger cut of 50 basis points [4][19] 3. High inflation scenario, where persistent high inflation would necessitate maintaining higher rates for a longer period [4][19] - The soft landing scenario is considered the most likely, while the probabilities for recession and high inflation scenarios are viewed as lower [20]

Group 1 - The price of gold has increased by over 40% this year, marking a rare historical event, with some benefiting from the bull market while others have faced losses [2] - The Federal Reserve's interest rate decision is expected to lead to increased liquidity in the market as the economic situation worsens, particularly in the U.S. job market [2] - High inflation is pushing investors to seek safe havens for cash, with gold being identified as the optimal solution [2] Group 2 - Gold prices have shown strong support around $3610, indicating potential for further upward movement despite short-term adjustment risks [4] - The current strategy suggests buying gold when prices approach the $3665-$3662 range, with upward targets set at $3685-$3690 [5] - The market is expected to experience intensified volatility as the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions unfold, creating opportunities for traders [2][4]

Group 1 - The core argument is that the likelihood of the US and EU jointly imposing high tariffs on China is low due to the significant economic repercussions they would face domestically [1][10][11] - China's manufacturing sector holds a dominant position globally, accounting for approximately 33% of global manufacturing output, which is about $5.7 trillion, surpassing both the US and EU individually [3][4] - Historical context shows that previous tariff increases led to significant market reactions, with the US stock market declining and China’s stock market rebounding, indicating the interconnectedness of their economies [4][6] Group 2 - The internal conflicts between the US and EU complicate their ability to unite against China, as evidenced by the EU's dissatisfaction with trade agreements that favor the US [6][8] - Both the US and EU rely heavily on Chinese goods, with overlapping demand for key products, making it difficult to find alternative suppliers [8][9] - The ongoing high inflation in the US and EU poses a significant risk; imposing tariffs could exacerbate inflation, leading to public discontent and political repercussions [10][11] Group 3 - China's strong relationships with ASEAN and other regions provide it with a robust economic backing, contrasting with the US and EU's interdependent and often conflicting relationship [7][8] - The time required to rebuild manufacturing capabilities in the US and EU means they are not prepared to sever ties with China, as establishing new production facilities takes years [9][10]

Group 1 - Klarna's successful IPO in New York is seen as a breakthrough for the fintech sector, reopening public market financing channels [2] - The U.S. stock market has experienced a rebound, particularly in the tech sector, leading to a surge in new tech IPOs [2] - Major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, are ramping up hiring in IPO underwriting and capital markets advisory roles, with some banks hiring dozens of executives [2] Group 2 - The U.S. inflation rate remains significantly above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, impacting production and financing costs for businesses [3] - High inflation may lead the Federal Reserve to maintain high interest rates, which could suppress capital market liquidity and affect IPO pricing and merger financing [3] - Recent employment data indicates a slight increase in unemployment and fewer new jobs than expected, with some industries initiating layoffs [3]

Core Viewpoint - September is historically known as a challenging month for the U.S. stock market, often referred to as the "September Curse" [2] Group 1 - Historical data indicates that September is typically the worst-performing month for U.S. stocks, with significant events like the internet bubble and Lehman crisis occurring during this month [2] - This year, the combination of interest rate cut expectations and high inflation raises questions about whether the "curse" will manifest again [2]

Group 1 - The main factor driving the rise in gold prices is the decline of the US dollar index, influenced by dovish comments from the Federal Reserve Chairman at the Jackson Hole central bank meeting [1] - Gold prices increased from a low of $3321 to a high of $3378 last week, and continued to rise, reaching $3386, approaching the $3400 mark [1] - President Trump is exerting pressure on the Federal Reserve to implement rapid interest rate cuts, which could lead to a weaker dollar index and potential economic challenges [1] Group 2 - The US core CPI year-on-year rate for July was 3.1%, above the previous value of 2.9%, indicating inflation concerns that could complicate the Fed's decision to cut rates [2] - If the Fed resumes rate cuts, it may lead to significant declines in the dollar index, benefiting gold and silver prices as well as non-US currencies [2] Group 3 - From April 22 to the present, gold has formed a converging triangle structure, with multiple peaks and troughs indicating a potential upward breakout [4] - Given the weak dollar index and ongoing tensions between the White House and the Federal Reserve, gold is likely to gain upward momentum, with a high probability of breaking through the upper boundary of the converging triangle [4]

Economic Outlook - The probability of the US economy entering a recession within the next 12 months is estimated at 49% according to a prediction by Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi, based on a complex machine learning model [1] - Over half of the industries have initiated layoffs, a phenomenon that aligns closely with historical indicators of impending economic recessions [1] Policy Impact - The negative impacts of tariffs and immigration restrictions from the Trump administration are expected to peak between late 2025 and early 2026, contributing to an "economic winter" [3] - The actual tariff rate in the US has reached 23%, the highest in a century, leading to increased operational costs for businesses and potential price hikes for consumers [6] Economic Indicators - The US GDP growth rate is projected to plummet from 3% in Q2 to 1%, while inflation could rise to a peak of 3.5% [5] - Employment growth has significantly declined, with potential job growth dropping from 206,000 in Q1 to just 28,000 by July, far below the 90,000 needed to maintain economic stability [5] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve is expected to implement a series of interest rate cuts, with predictions of three consecutive cuts in September, October, and December, followed by two more in 2026 [6] - There is a notable division among Federal Reserve officials regarding interest rate predictions for 2025, complicating the formulation of a unified monetary policy [7] Market Reactions - The US stock market is experiencing a "high valuation trap," with significant sell-offs occurring despite some companies reporting better-than-expected earnings [8] - Concerns about the US dollar's valuation persist, with Goldman Sachs indicating that the actual exchange rate is overvalued by 15% [8] Broader Economic Challenges - The US economy is facing a confluence of high inflation, rising unemployment, and economic slowdown, presenting one of the most severe challenges since the 1970s [10]

Core Viewpoint - The US dollar index is stabilizing at a high level, currently reported at 98.67, with a slight increase of 0.01%. However, there are indications that the dollar may weaken further as the Federal Reserve appears ready to restart interest rate cuts despite persistent inflation [1]. Group 1 - Recent rebound in the dollar is attributed to accelerated business activity and a significant increase in manufacturing orders, which reached an 18-month high, offsetting some weak employment data and reinforcing the dollar's safe-haven status [1]. - Concerns over disappointing July non-farm payroll data and worries about the independence of the Federal Reserve have led to market expectations for quicker and larger rate cuts, creating fertile ground for dollar depreciation amid rising inflation [1]. Group 2 - Technically, the dollar index faced resistance below 98.70 and found support above 98.15, suggesting a potential for an upward trend after a short-term decline. If the index stabilizes above 98.30 today, the upward target could be between 98.80 and 99.00 [1]. - Short-term resistance levels for the dollar index are identified at 98.75-98.80, with significant resistance at 98.95-99.00. Conversely, short-term support is noted at 98.30-98.35, with important support at 98.00-98.05 [1].