Employment Data Summary - In July 2025, the U.S. non-farm payrolls increased by 73,000, significantly below the expected 104,000, with the previous month's figure revised down from 147,000 to 14,000, resulting in a total downward revision of 253,000 for May and June[6][7]. - The unemployment rate rose from 4.1% to 4.2%, while the U6 unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 7.9%[6][8]. - Labor force participation rate declined for four consecutive months, dropping by 0.1 percentage points to 62.2%[5][8]. Wage Growth Insights - Private sector hourly wage growth increased from 0.2% to 0.3% month-over-month, with service sector wages rising from 0.2% to 0.4%[12]. - Retail sector hourly wage growth surged from 0.2% to 1.2%, attributed to increased hiring demand during the inventory replenishment cycle and seasonal summer effects[12]. Economic Implications - The significant downward revisions in employment data for May and June have eroded market confidence in U.S. economic data, shifting perceptions from resilient job growth to stagnation[7]. - The mixed signals of low job growth and high inflation present a dilemma for the Federal Reserve, complicating monetary policy decisions[9][12]. - Market expectations for a 25 basis point rate cut in September rose sharply from 43.2% to 80.3% following the release of the July employment data[9].

Core Viewpoint - The data from May 2025 indicates that the U.S. is entering an active destocking phase, with total inventory increasing by 2.62% year-on-year and total sales increasing by 3.30% year-on-year, both showing a decline from previous values [1][2]. Overall Inventory Cycle - In May, total U.S. inventory increased by 2.62% year-on-year, down from 3.15% previously, while total sales increased by 3.30% year-on-year, down from 3.68% [2]. - The U.S. is confirmed to be in an active destocking phase, with a significant import surge occurring from November 2024 to March 2025, and imports returning to normal levels in April and May 2025 [2]. - A short-term replenishment demand is expected in June and July 2025, but active destocking is anticipated to continue thereafter, with excess imports expected to be depleted by November 2025 [2]. U.S. Industry Inventory Cycle - Among 14 major industries in May, six are in active destocking, including upstream oil, natural gas, and consumer fuels, chemical products, midstream transportation, and downstream automotive and automotive parts, textiles, clothing, luxury goods, and food, beverages, and tobacco [3]. - Historical inventory levels show that construction materials, chemical products, metals and mining, paper and forestry products, and technology hardware and equipment have higher inventory levels compared to historical percentiles [3]. Upstream Inventory Trends - Oil, natural gas, and consumer fuels have been in active replenishment from July 2023 to May 2024, transitioning to active destocking by June 2024 and remaining in that phase until May 2025 [4]. - Chemical products are expected to transition from passive replenishment to active destocking by May 2025 [5]. - Construction materials and metals and mining are currently in passive replenishment, with a high likelihood of transitioning to active destocking in the future [6]. Midstream Inventory Trends - The transportation sector is likely in active destocking, while paper and forestry products, as well as electrical equipment and appliances, are in passive replenishment [7]. - Mechanical manufacturing has transitioned to active replenishment as of March 2025 [7]. Downstream Inventory Trends - The automotive and automotive parts sector is in active replenishment as of December 2024 [8]. - Household durable goods, textiles, clothing, luxury goods, food, beverages, and tobacco are in passive replenishment, with some expected to transition to active replenishment in April and May 2025 [8].

Core Insights - The construction industry is expected to outperform the market in the second half of 2025, driven by improvements in asset quality and a potential recovery in demand [1][4] - Downstream demand remains weak, leading to accelerated balance sheet contraction among construction companies [1][4] - Infrastructure investment is anticipated to become a key driver for expanding domestic demand and stabilizing growth [3][4] Summary by Sections Industry Performance - In the first half of 2025, the total contract amount for new projects in the construction industry reached 25 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.5%, although still significantly lower than levels in 2022-2023 [1][30] - The industry is experiencing a decline in new orders and revenue, but signs of a profitability turning point are emerging as some local construction companies accelerate the collection of receivables and repay existing debts [1][4] Inventory Cycle Perspective - The construction industry is nearing the end of a "passive inventory replenishment" phase, characterized by a lagged response of inventory fluctuations to changes in downstream demand [2][77] - Since 2021, the industry has entered a phase of passive inventory accumulation due to prolonged project repayment cycles and a concentration of PPP projects transitioning to operational phases [2][82] Infrastructure Investment - Infrastructure investment is seen as a critical measure to expand domestic demand and stabilize economic growth, especially in light of pressures on price indicators and the need for effective investment [3][4] - The government is expected to increase fiscal support for infrastructure projects, particularly in areas related to public welfare and energy security [3][4] Investment Recommendations - The report maintains a positive outlook for the construction sector in the second half of 2025, suggesting that asset quality improvements will align with demand recovery [4] - Recommended stocks include Yaxiang Integration, Zhongyan Dadi, China Railway Construction, and others, which are expected to benefit from the anticipated recovery in infrastructure investment [4][8]

Core Insights - The domestic economy is stabilizing, with a narrowing decline in industrial profits and a transition to a "passive destocking" phase in the industrial inventory cycle, led by a recovery in high-end manufacturing [4][8] - The national childcare subsidy policy has been officially implemented, which is expected to alleviate the pressure of newborn population in the medium to long term and boost domestic consumption in the short term [4][8] - Industrial policies are showing positive effects, with significant price recoveries in the supply chain, easing short-term survival pressures for some companies [4][8] Industrial Economic Insights - In June, the revenue of large-scale industrial enterprises increased by 1.0% year-on-year, while profits decreased by 4.3%, a reduction of 4.8 percentage points compared to May [8][10] - The inventory cycle is transitioning from "active destocking" to "passive destocking," with three consecutive months of inventory decline. High-end equipment manufacturing is leading the recovery, with four out of eight sectors experiencing profit growth [10][11] - The automotive industry saw a profit increase of 96.8% due to promotional activities and investment returns from key enterprises [10][11] Consumer Insights - The national childcare subsidy policy targets families with children born after January 2022, with an estimated subsidy scale exceeding 100 billion yuan by 2025, which is expected to boost consumption in the maternal and infant sector [4][12] - In the first half of 2025, gold jewelry consumption decreased by nearly 30% due to high gold prices [4][12] High-end Manufacturing Insights - The photovoltaic industry is experiencing price increases for polysilicon, silicon wafers, and battery cells, although recent price surges have moderated [4][16] - The motorcycle sector is seeing sustained growth in exports as domestic brands expand their global sales networks [4][15] - The home air conditioning market is benefiting from extreme heat and ongoing government subsidies, leading to increased domestic demand [4][15] Hard Technology Insights - AI remains the core growth driver in the hard technology sector, with AI-related investments accounting for 71% of venture capital funding in Q1 2025 [4][19] - The semiconductor equipment sales in Japan reached 404.59 billion yen in June, a year-on-year increase of 17.6% [4][17] - The PCB sector is experiencing high demand due to AI, with inventory and turnover days increasing among manufacturers in mainland China and Taiwan [4][19]

Overall Inventory Cycle - In May, the total inventory in the U.S. increased by 2.62% year-on-year, down from 3.15% in the previous period[12] - Sales in May rose by 3.30% year-on-year, compared to 3.68% previously[12] - The U.S. is confirmed to be entering an active destocking phase, with a significant import surge occurring from November 2024 to March 2025[12] - A brief replenishment demand is expected in June and July, after which active destocking will continue[12] Industry Inventory Cycle - Six out of fourteen major industries are in active destocking as of May, including oil, gas, chemicals, transportation, automotive parts, textiles, and food[19] - The historical percentile for overall inventory in May is 32.4%, with construction materials at 83.6% and chemicals at 69.3%[19] - The first round of excess imports is estimated at $180 billion and the second at $100 billion, totaling $280 billion, which may be exhausted by November[12] - Recent rapid declines in copper prices are attributed to a 50% tariff on copper products while exempting raw materials, disrupting supply and demand dynamics[13] Risk Factors - The potential for U.S. economic fundamentals and policies to exceed expectations poses a risk to inventory and pricing stability[8]

Economic Performance - The U.S. GDP for Q2 2025 showed a quarter-on-quarter annualized growth rate of 3.0%, exceeding the expected 2.4% and rebounding from a previous decline of -0.5% in Q1[2] - Year-on-year GDP growth remained stable at 2.0%, consistent with the previous quarter[2] Consumption and Trade - Personal consumption increased from a previous annualized rate of 0.5% in Q1 to 1.4% in Q2, contributing 1.0 percentage points to GDP growth[2] - Net exports improved significantly due to a sharp decline in imports, which fell from an annualized rate of 37.9% to -30.3%, raising the contribution to GDP from -4.6% to 5.0%[2] Investment Trends - Private investment saw a dramatic decline, with an annualized rate dropping from 23.8% in Q1 to -15.6% in Q2, negatively impacting GDP by 3.1 percentage points[2] - Residential investment continued to decline, with an annualized rate of -4.6% in Q2, reflecting ongoing pressures from high mortgage rates and immigration policies[2] Government Spending - Government spending rebounded to an annualized growth rate of 0.4% in Q2, driven primarily by increased defense spending and state/local government hiring[2] - State and local government expenditures rose from 2.0% in Q1 to 3.0% in Q2, indicating a positive trend in public sector investment[2] Market Reactions - Following the GDP release, market expectations for interest rate cuts diminished, leading to an increase in the U.S. dollar index and bond yields, while gold prices fell[2] - The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index improved, reaching 61.8 in July, indicating a recovery in consumer confidence[2]

Group 1 - The chemical sector ETF (516220) rose over 2% during the trading session, indicating positive market sentiment towards the sector [1] - Under the backdrop of energy structure adjustments, fossil-based materials may face disruptive challenges, while low-energy products and industries are expected to have a longer growth window [1] - Traditional chemical companies will compete based on energy consumption and carbon tax costs, with leading firms likely to adopt green energy alternatives and leverage integrated and scaled advantages to reduce energy costs [1] Group 2 - The demand for bio-based materials is anticipated to surge due to decreasing costs and breakthroughs in "non-food" raw materials, leading to a high-growth phase with potential for both profit and valuation increases [1] - The chemical sector may see marginal improvements in performance as inventory cycles approach active destocking, commodity prices stabilize, and downstream orders show signs of recovery [1] - The chemical sector ETF tracks the CSI segmented chemical industry theme index, selecting leading companies with strong governance and competitiveness across various sub-industries, making it suitable for capturing cyclical rebound opportunities [1]

Summary of Conference Call Records Industry Overview - The conference call discusses the performance of industrial enterprises in the first half of 2025, highlighting the impact of trade wars and price wars on various sectors [1][2][3]. Key Points and Arguments - **Profit Growth Trends**: In the first half of 2025, industrial enterprises experienced a profit growth improvement in the first quarter, but a decline was noted in May and June due to the introduction of equal tariffs and price wars. June showed a slight improvement in profit growth, but it remained weak overall [2][3]. - **Impact of Trade Wars**: The trade war has led to a pattern where midstream raw materials and downstream industrial products saw initial revenue and profit growth, followed by a decline. This trend aligns with the timing of export rush and tariff policies [3][4]. - **"Revenue without Profit" Phenomenon**: The downstream consumer goods sector exhibited a "revenue without profit" characteristic, where revenue remained stable but profits declined due to price wars [4][5]. - **Sector Performance**: In June 2025, midstream dye processing, non-ferrous processing, and downstream sectors like instrumentation and automotive manufacturing showed improvements in both revenue and profit growth. However, the communication electronics manufacturing sector faced continuous profit decline despite revenue growth, likely due to price competition and tariff costs [5][6]. - **Inventory Cycle Trends**: The inventory cycle in the first half of 2025 showed a trend of initial replenishment followed by destocking, reflecting unstable business expectations. Midstream raw materials began destocking in the second quarter, while downstream industrial and consumer goods sectors continued to destock, indicating a lack of replenishment motivation [6][7]. - **High Inventory Turnover**: Industrial enterprises faced high product turnover days and extended accounts receivable collection periods, indicating weak replenishment intentions due to unstable demand [8]. Additional Important Insights - **Future Policy Expectations**: Anticipation of upcoming political meetings and ongoing US-China negotiations may influence future policies. There is a possibility of focusing on domestic demand policies in the latter half of the year, especially if fundamental pressures begin to emerge [9][10]. - **Export and Consumption Outlook**: The overall export orders are expected to face pressure in the second half of the year, particularly in the latter part of the third quarter, necessitating attention to domestic demand policies to address potential challenges [10].

Group 1: Industrial Profit Trends - In the first half of 2025, the total profit of industrial enterprises reached CNY 34,365.0 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.8%[2] - The profit growth rate slowed down, with June showing a 4.3% year-on-year decline, narrowing the drop by 4.8 percentage points compared to May[2] - The revenue profit margin for industrial enterprises was 5.15%, which is 0.22 percentage points lower than the same period last year[2] Group 2: Price and Demand Dynamics - The Producer Price Index (PPI) for June 2025 decreased by 3.6% year-on-year and 0.4% month-on-month, significantly impacting profit growth[2] - Effective demand remains insufficient, and industrial product prices are low, which continues to drag on profit recovery[3] - The industrial capacity utilization rate in Q2 2025 was 74.0%, slightly down by 0.1 percentage points from Q1, indicating a low position that hinders cost reduction[2] Group 3: Policy Impact and Sector Performance - The "Two New" policies are showing continued support for profit recovery, particularly benefiting the equipment manufacturing sector[3] - In June, the equipment manufacturing sector's revenue grew by 7.0% year-on-year, with profits increasing by 9.6%, contributing 3.8 percentage points to overall industrial profit growth[4] - High-end equipment manufacturing sectors, such as electronic materials and aircraft manufacturing, saw profit increases of 68.1% and 19.0% respectively[4] Group 4: Inventory and Market Conditions - As of June 2025, the inventory of finished products for industrial enterprises increased by 3.1% year-on-year, reflecting a flattening inventory cycle[9] - The current inventory-to-sales ratio remains high, indicating a willingness among enterprises to reduce inventory despite ongoing pressures[9] - The MPI industrial inventory forward index suggests that the inventory cycle will continue to exhibit a flattening characteristic throughout 2025[9]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Haier Smart Home (600690) and recommends "Increase" for Hisense Visual (600060) [4][20] Core Viewpoints - Despite underwhelming June export data for home appliances, actual exports are expected to meet forecasts when considering capacity transfer and high base disturbances. The report highlights numerous structural bright spots in home appliance exports, such as the potential increase in air conditioning penetration in Europe due to high temperatures, strong demand for refrigerators and washing machines in Africa and Latin America, and the growing global market for vacuum cleaners and robotic vacuums. The report anticipates continued growth in large-screen TVs and Mini LED penetration, with expectations for long-term benefits from sports events [4][20] Summary by Sections Export Performance - June home appliance export data was not impressive, but actual exports are projected to align with expectations when accounting for capacity transfer and high base effects. The report notes that high temperatures may drive increased air conditioning adoption in Europe, and there is strong growth potential for refrigerators and washing machines in Africa and Latin America, with exports of these categories to Africa increasing by 49% and 27% respectively in the first half of the year [4][20] Vacuum Cleaners - The global vacuum cleaner market is experiencing growth across multiple regions, with exports to the U.S. expected to be supported by capacity transfers. The report indicates that vacuum cleaner exports, including robotic vacuums, have shown sustained growth in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The report also highlights that the structure of robotic vacuum cleaners is expected to continue improving [4][20] Television Market - The report emphasizes the importance of structural improvements in the television market, noting that TCL Electronics saw an 8.7% year-on-year increase in overseas TV shipments in the first half of 2025, with significant growth in larger screen sizes. The trend towards larger screens and Mini LED TVs is expected to continue, with TCL's overseas Mini LED TV shipments showing promising growth [4][20]