Summary of China Solar Profitability Tracker Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the solar industry in China, specifically tracking profitability trends and supply/demand dynamics within the solar value chain [1][5]. Key Highlights - **Module Price Trends**: Early signs of module price increases were noted, with China Huadian's 20GW solar project bidding starting at an average of Rmb0.71/w, which is 6% higher than the current spot module pricing of Rmb0.67/w. This price hike followed a joint meeting by six ministries on August 19 [5]. - **Supply/Demand Outlook**: The monthly supply/demand ratio is expected to worsen, estimated to be between 1.4X-2.1X in August, down from 1.3X-1.7X in July. This deterioration is attributed to slow supply cut adjustments, with increased inventory pressures in the Poly and Module segments [5][12]. - **Production Increases**: Production across the value chain is expected to increase by 5%-20% month-over-month in August, with specific increases of +19% for Poly, +5% for Wafer and Cell, and +12% for Module [11]. - **Inventory Dynamics**: End-August inventory is projected to decline significantly in the Cell and Glass segments due to higher module production demand, while Poly and Module inventories are expected to rise [12]. Financial Metrics - **Profitability Trends**: Cash gross profit margins (GPM) and EBITDA margins have shown improvement in upstream segments but have deteriorated in downstream segments. For example, the cash GPM for Poly is at 29%, while for Modules, it is at -3% [6][9]. - **Spot Price Changes**: As of August 21, 2025, spot prices for most value chain products remained stable, except for a 6% increase in Glass prices due to rapid inventory depletion [17][21]. Sector View - The report suggests that the solar sector is at a cyclical bottom, with a potential inflection point expected around the second half of 2026. However, normalized profitability is likely to remain low due to a slowdown in demand growth in China [5]. - **Investment Preferences**: The report indicates a preference for investments in Cell & Module and Film segments, while showing a bearish outlook on Glass, Poly, Wafer, and Equipment segments [5]. Additional Insights - **Challenges in Implementation**: The anticipated price hikes and profitability improvements are contingent on effective implementation of policies, which currently face challenges due to a lack of fiscal support and changes in local government incentives [5]. - **Diverse Inventory Days**: The average inventory days across the value chain are expected to remain at around 40 days in August, reflecting a diverse inventory situation relative to demand [12][15]. This summary encapsulates the key points from the conference call regarding the current state and outlook of the solar industry in China, highlighting both opportunities and risks for investors.

here now on set, Noble Black, broker at Douglas Elellman Noble. Good to have you on. Thanks for having me.All right, so we were just talking about New York and some of the craziness around here. What's happening nationally. Because let's be I mean New York City, we're slightly does not reflect Cleveland.Sure, we're our own market. Um you know, nationally, it's still a story of different markets. So what's happening in the Sunbolt is different from what's happening in the Northeast, different from what's hap ...

Supply and Demand - Demand for cocoa is increasing faster than supply [1] Industry Response - Sweet-makers are increasing prices to cope with the cocoa shortage [1] - Sweet-makers are exploring innovative solutions to address the supply issue [1]

Market Trends & Industry Dynamics - Senior living is on the edge of a boom due to the aging baby boomer population, with over 4 million boomers expected to reach 80 in the next five years [1][2][3] - The over 80 population is expected to grow by 28% in the next five years, significantly outpacing the overall US population growth of about 1% [3] - Annual inventory growth in senior living has dropped below 1% for the first time since 2006, indicating constrained supply [1] - Demand-supply dynamics strongly favor owners of senior living assets due to decade-long tailwinds and historically low supply growth [5] - The senior living sector is becoming increasingly consumer-driven, with residents paying out-of-pocket for care and amenities [25][26] - The great investment opportunities always go back to where is the demand, senior living is such a great investment opportunity is that the demand is in this longevity economy [32][34] Investment Opportunities & Financial Performance - Ventas is investing billions of dollars annually in senior living, seeing returns in the 7% range going in, with unlevered IRR in the low to mid teens, and acquiring assets below replacement costs [1][3] - Baby boomers, who are now turning 80, control $78 trillion, which is half the assets in the US, with the average net worth of over 75 household is 1 million plus [12] - Ventas benefits from higher development costs because it has an installed base and is acquiring assets below replacement cost [14] - Ventas has wildly outperformed the S&P 500 during the CEO's tenure [31] Risks & Challenges - Potential risks include macroeconomic factors like stagflation or recession, and ensuring sufficient caregivers and labor [21][22] - Scarcity of construction labor and tariffs will keep construction costs relatively elevated [23]

Microeconomics looks at how individuals and firms make choices—from prices to wages to supply and demand. Small scale, big impact.https://t.co/Lw8eIyMu7G https://t.co/jekN5KBu83 ...

Investment Highlights - Senior living investments are yielding returns in the 7% range [1] - Leveraged Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for senior living investments are in the low to mid-teens (13-15%) [1] - The senior living sector presents a unique combination of investment characteristics [1] Market Dynamics - The senior living sector is driven by needs-based demand [2] - The sector benefits from strong, durable, and decade-long tailwinds [2] - The senior living market is in its fourth year of growth, with continued and accelerating expansion [2]

From @WSJopinion: Empirical studies confirm a basic idea from economics: If you tax something, the price rises, and people use less of it. We don’t need fancy statistics to see the predictive power of simple supply and demand, writes @BrianCAlbrecht. https://t.co/lw2pElYrU1 ...

Turkey opened an investigation into dozens of power producers which it alleges failed to adjust their output to balance supply and demand, underlining one of the main challenges as intermittent renewables get a larger share of electricity markets https://t.co/7wZvANbGfu ...

Interest Rates and Housing Market - The market generally believes that a dovish Federal Reserve (J Pal) could positively impact the housing market, but the analysis suggests otherwise [1] - Long-term interest rates are expected to remain elevated, similar to the trend observed after the Federal Reserve cut 100 basis points at the end of 2024 [1] - There's a global aversion to taking on long duration, leading to higher long-term interest rates worldwide, with the UK 30-year gilt yield closing at its highest level since 1998 [2] - Homebuyers shouldn't necessarily expect significant rate relief from short-term interest rate cuts, especially when locking in a 30-year mortgage [2][3] Housing Supply and Demand - A significant increase in the supply of existing homes is needed, primarily driven by baby boomers downsizing [4] - Stimulating housing demand through low mortgage rates without a corresponding increase in supply will only lead to higher home prices, negating the benefits of lower rates [8] - Lower mortgage rates and increased supply are both necessary to increase transaction activity in the housing market [8] Homebuilder Earnings - Increased existing home supply and declining home prices, while stimulating demand, could negatively impact homebuilder earnings, creating a "catch 22" situation [5] Mortgage Rates - Many homeowners have mortgages under 5%, even under 4%, making it difficult to move despite downsizing desires due to potential mortgage rate increases [6]

Market Technicals - Bulls are looking for a breakout above the 200-day and 50-day moving averages, with the 50-day at $65.70 as a key level for confirming momentum shift [1] - A close above $65.70 is necessary to attract new long positions, while failure to hold above $64.06 could lead to increased selling pressure [1] Geopolitical Factors - The upcoming Trump-Putin summit is causing market nerves, with potential ceasefire talks in Ukraine seen as bearish for crude oil prices due to the possibility of eased sanctions on Russian oil [2][3] - The situation remains fluid, with Trump threatening secondary sanctions on countries like India and China, adding to the headline risk [3] Demand Concerns - Weaker-than-expected Chinese economic data has raised concerns about oil demand, despite a nearly 9% year-over-year increase in refinery throughput in July [4] - The month-on-month slowdown in refinery throughput and higher product exports suggest that domestic fuel demand in China may be leveling off [4] Supply Outlook - Bank of America has increased its oil surplus forecast to nearly 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) through mid-2026, citing rising OPEC+ output [5] - The International Energy Agency (IEA) has also expressed concerns about a "bloated" market, indicating a bearish supply outlook [5] - The Baker Hughes oil rig count has increased by one to 412, signaling that U.S. supply is not diminishing [5] Price Forecast - With resistance at $64.06 holding firm and no bullish catalysts in sight, the outlook for crude oil is leaning towards the downside [6] - A break below $61.94 could trigger further selling, while prices need to clear $65.70 to avoid being stuck in a consolidation range with downside risks [6]