Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The report highlights the current trends in various sectors, including liquidity, infrastructure, real estate, industrial products, and export chains, indicating potential investment opportunities and market dynamics. Group 1: Liquidity and Financing Environment - SPDR Gold ETF holdings are at their highest level since June 2022 [4] - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for January 2026 is 50.27, up 6.62% month-on-month [4] - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference was -4.7 percentage points in December 2025, down 1.60 percentage points month-on-month [4] - Current London gold spot price is $4,880 per ounce [4] Group 2: Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - January high furnace capacity utilization is expected to be at the highest level for the same period in five years [5] - Weekly price changes include rebar down 0.61%, cement price index down 1.10%, rubber up 4.49%, coke up 3.65%, coking coal down 0.64%, and iron ore up 0.50% [5] - National high furnace capacity utilization, cement, and asphalt operating rates decreased by 0.04 percentage points, 0.02 percentage points, and 0.7 percentage points respectively [5] Group 3: Real Estate Completion Chain - Titanium dioxide and glass prices are at low levels, with titanium dioxide price unchanged and glass price up 1.38% [6] - Titanium dioxide gross profit is -1,834 yuan per ton, while flat glass operating rate is 73.89% [6] Group 4: Industrial Products Chain - January national PMI new orders index is at 49.20% [7] - Major commodity price changes include cold-rolled steel unchanged, copper up 3.50%, and aluminum up 2.11%, with corresponding gross profit changes showing improvements [7] - National semi-steel tire operating rate is 74.84%, up 0.28 percentage points [7] Group 5: Subcategories - Orientation silicon steel prices have reached the lowest level since 2018 [8] - Graphite electrode price is 19,000 yuan per ton, unchanged, with a gross profit of 1,921.48 yuan per ton, down 4.00% [8] - Electrolytic aluminum price is 24,640 yuan per ton, up 2.11%, with estimated profit of 7,389 yuan per ton (excluding tax), up 6.91% [8] - Electrolytic copper price is 104,640 yuan per ton, up 3.50% [8] - Tungsten concentrate price is 605,000 yuan per ton, up 11.42% from last week [8] Group 6: Price Comparison Relationships - The price ratio of hot-rolled to rebar is at the lowest level for the same period in five years [9] - The price ratio of rebar to iron ore is 3.96 this week [10] - The price difference between hot-rolled and rebar steel is 50 yuan per ton [10] - The price difference between Shanghai cold-rolled and hot-rolled steel is 360 yuan per ton, up 30 yuan per ton [10] - The price difference between small rebar (mainly used in real estate) and large rebar (mainly used in infrastructure) is 200 yuan per ton, up 33.33% from last week [10] - The price difference between medium-thick plates and rebar is 50 yuan per ton [10] Group 7: Export Chain - January China PMI new export orders are at 47.80%, down 1.2 percentage points [11] - The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) composite index is 1,175.59 points this week, down 2.74% [11] - The U.S. crude steel capacity utilization rate is 76.90%, up 1.00 percentage points [11] - Starting January 1, 2026, China will implement export licensing management for certain steel products, which is expected to further regulate steel exports [11] Group 8: Valuation Percentiles - This week, the CSI 300 index increased by 0.08%, with the best-performing cyclical sector being oil and petrochemicals, up 7.95% [12] - The PB ratio of ordinary steel and industrial metals relative to the PB of the two markets is 32.46% and 100.00% respectively [12] - The PB ratio of the ordinary steel sector relative to the two markets is currently 0.52, with the highest value since 2013 being 0.82, reached in August 2017 [12]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current economic indicators and trends in various sectors, highlighting the liquidity situation, construction and real estate chains, industrial products, pricing dynamics, and export conditions, with a focus on potential investment opportunities and market movements. Group 1: Liquidity - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for January 2026 is at 50.27, an increase of 6.62% month-on-month [3] - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference was -4.7 percentage points in December 2025, a decrease of 1.60 percentage points month-on-month [3] - The current price of London gold is $4,981 per ounce [3] Group 2: Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - The capacity utilization rate of blast furnaces is expected to be at the highest level for January in five years [4] - Weekly price changes include rebar down 1.81%, cement price index down 0.87%, rubber down 0.32%, coke unchanged, coking coal up 1.07%, and iron ore down 2.92% [4] - National blast furnace capacity utilization rate increased by 0.36 percentage points, while cement and asphalt operating rates decreased by 4.30 percentage points and increased by 3.7 percentage points, respectively [4] Group 3: Real Estate Completion Chain - The prices of titanium dioxide and glass are at low levels, with titanium dioxide price increasing by 0.76% and glass price decreasing by 0.73% [5] - The gross profit for titanium dioxide is -1,740 yuan per ton, while the flat glass operating rate is 73.89% [5] Group 4: Industrial Products Chain - Major commodity price changes include cold-rolled steel down 1.55%, copper down 0.71%, and aluminum up 0.54%, with corresponding gross profit changes showing a turnaround to profit for cold-rolled steel and an increase in losses for copper and aluminum [6] - The national semi-steel tire operating rate is at 74.56%, an increase of 1.12 percentage points [6] Group 5: Specific Products - The price of oriented silicon steel has reached a new low since 2018 [7] - The price of graphite electrodes is 19,000 yuan per ton, unchanged, with a gross profit of 2,001.58 yuan per ton [7] - The price of electrolytic aluminum is 24,130 yuan per ton, with a profit of 6,911 yuan per ton (excluding tax), an increase of 1.83% [7] Group 6: Price Comparison Relationships - The price ratio of London spot gold to silver has reached the lowest level since 2013 [8] - The price ratio of rebar to iron ore is 4.01, and the price difference between hot-rolled and rebar steel is 70 yuan per ton [8] - The price difference between small rebar (mainly used in real estate) and large rebar (mainly used in infrastructure) is 150 yuan per ton, a decrease of 25% from the previous week [8] Group 7: Export Chain - The new export orders PMI for China in December is 49.00%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points month-on-month [9] - The CCFI comprehensive index for container shipping rates is 1,208.75 points, a decrease of 0.09% [9] - The U.S. crude steel capacity utilization rate is 75.90%, an increase of 0.20 percentage points [9] Group 8: Valuation Percentiles - The CSI 300 index decreased by 0.62%, with the best-performing cyclical sector being oil and petrochemicals, which increased by 7.71% [10] - The PB ratio of ordinary steel and industrial metals relative to the PB of the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is 34.11% and 100.00%, respectively [10] - The current PB ratio of the ordinary steel sector relative to the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is 0.51, with the highest value since 2013 being 0.82 [10]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a rating of "Overweight" for the steel and non-ferrous metals sectors [5] Core Insights - The report highlights that the price of oriented silicon steel has reached its lowest level since 2018, indicating potential market challenges [2] - The liquidity indicators show that gold prices have reached a historical high, with the London gold spot price at $4,981 per ounce, reflecting strong demand [11] - The report suggests that the steel sector's supply may be reasonably constrained in the medium to long term, which could lead to a recovery in profitability to historical average levels [4] Summary by Relevant Sections Liquidity - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for January 2026 is at 50.27, up 6.62% month-on-month [11] - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference was -4.7 percentage points in December 2025, down 1.60 percentage points month-on-month [11] - The current London gold price is $4,981 per ounce, reflecting an 8.31% increase from the previous week [11] Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - The blast furnace capacity utilization rate in January is expected to be at its highest level for the same period in five years [20] - The national blast furnace capacity utilization rate is 85.51%, up 0.03 percentage points week-on-week [39] - The report notes that the prices of titanium dioxide and glass are at low levels, with titanium dioxide priced at 13,300 yuan per ton, up 0.76% week-on-week [76] Industrial Products Chain - The operating rate of semi-steel tires is at 74.56%, up 1.12 percentage points [2] - The report indicates that the price of electrolytic aluminum is 24,130 yuan per ton, reflecting a 0.54% increase [2] - The price of tungsten concentrate is 543,000 yuan per ton, up 6.37% from the previous week [2] Valuation Metrics - The Shanghai Composite Index decreased by 0.62%, while the best-performing sector was oil and petrochemicals, which increased by 7.71% [4] - The PB ratio of the steel sector relative to the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is currently at 0.51, with a historical high of 0.82 [4] Export Chain - The new export orders PMI for China in December was 49.00%, up 1.4 percentage points month-on-month [3] - The CCFI composite index for container shipping rates is at 1,208.75 points, down 0.09% [3] - The U.S. crude steel capacity utilization rate is 75.90%, up 0.20 percentage points [3]

Liquidity - The negative difference in the growth rates of M1 and M2 has expanded for three consecutive months, reaching -4.7 percentage points in December 2025 [3] - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for December 2025 is 47.15, a month-on-month decrease of 10.19% [3] - The correlation between the M1 and M2 growth rate difference and the Shanghai Composite Index is strong, with the difference in December 2025 being -4.7 percentage points, a month-on-month decrease of 1.60% [3] Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - In early January, the average daily crude steel output of key steel enterprises rebounded to levels seen in mid-October 2025 [3] - Price changes this week include rebar up by 1.22%, cement price index down by 0.94%, rubber down by 1.26%, coke unchanged, coking coal up by 1.23%, and iron ore down by 0.12% [3] - National blast furnace capacity utilization rate, cement, and asphalt operating rates changed by +0.04 percentage points, -1.92 percentage points, and +3.7 percentage points respectively [3] Real Estate Completion Chain - Prices of titanium dioxide and glass are at low levels, with titanium dioxide price unchanged and glass price down by 0.73% [4] - The gross profit for titanium dioxide is -1707 yuan/ton, while the flat glass operating rate is 73.89% this week [4] Industrial Products Chain - The operating rate of semi-steel tires is at the median level for the past five years, with a current rate of 73.44%, an increase of 7.55 percentage points [5] - Major commodity price changes this week include cold-rolled steel unchanged, copper up by 1.19%, and aluminum down by 0.25% [5] - Copper spot prices have reached a historical high, while tungsten concentrate prices have continued to reach new highs since 2012 [5] Price Comparison Relationships - The gold-silver price ratio in London has reached its lowest level since 2013 [6] - The price ratio of rebar to iron ore is 3.99 this week, with the price difference between hot-rolled and rebar steel at 30 yuan/ton [6] - The price difference between small rebar (mainly used in real estate) and large rebar (mainly used in infrastructure) reached 200 yuan/ton, an increase of 31.03% from last week [6] Export Chain - In December, China's PMI new export orders stood at 49.00%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points month-on-month [7] - The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) composite index this week is 1209.85 points, up by 1.25% [7] - The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced that starting January 1, 2026, export licensing management will be implemented for certain steel products, which is expected to further regulate China's steel product exports [7] Valuation Percentiles - The CSI 300 Index decreased by 0.57% this week, with the best-performing cyclical sector being industrial metals, which increased by 2.81% [8] - The PB ratio of ordinary steel and industrial metals relative to the PB ratio of the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is 28.96% and 100.00% respectively [8] - The current PB ratio of the ordinary steel sector relative to the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is 0.50, with the highest value since 2013 being 0.82, reached in August 2017 [8]

Market Performance - The CSI 500 Index increased by 2.1%, the CSI 1000 Index rose by 1.4%, the CSI 2000 Index went up by 1.2%, the STAR 100 Index gained 1.5%, and the ChiNext Mid-cap 200 Index climbed by 1.3% [1] ETF Overview - The E Fund CSI 500 ETF tracks the CSI 500 Index, which consists of 500 stocks with high market capitalization, covering all 11 first-level industries. The index's rolling P/E ratio is 34.7 times, with a valuation percentile of 67.0% since its inception in 2007 [2] - The E Fund CSI 1000 ETF tracks the CSI 1000 Index, which includes 1000 smaller, liquid stocks outside the CSI 800 Index, reflecting the performance of small-cap companies in the A-share market. The index's rolling P/E ratio is 47.2 times, with a valuation percentile of 68.5% since its inception in 2014 [2] - The E Fund CSI 2000 ETF tracks the CSI 2000 Index, which consists of 2000 smaller, liquid stocks, focusing on the performance of micro-cap stocks in the A-share market. The index's rolling P/E ratio is 158.0 times, and it was launched on August 7, 2023 [2] - The E Fund STAR 100 ETF tracks the STAR Market 100 Index, composed of 100 medium-sized, liquid stocks from the STAR Market, with over 75% of its composition in the electronics, power equipment, and pharmaceutical industries. The index's rolling P/E ratio is 203.1 times, and it was launched on August 7, 2023 [2] - The E Fund ChiNext Mid-cap 200 ETF tracks the ChiNext Mid-cap 200 Index, which includes 200 medium-sized, liquid stocks from the ChiNext market, with over 40% in the information technology sector. The index's rolling P/E ratio is 108.1 times, and it was launched on November 15, 2023 [3]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The report highlights the current economic indicators and trends affecting various sectors, particularly focusing on financing conditions, construction, real estate, and industrial products, indicating a mixed outlook for the economy in December 2025. Group 1: Liquidity - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for December 2025 is at 47.15, a decrease of 10.19% month-on-month [4] - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference in November 2025 is -3.1 percentage points, down by 1.1 percentage points from the previous month [4] - The current price of London gold is $4,333 per ounce [4] Group 2: Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - The national steel PMI new orders index for December decreased by 3.5 percentage points to 45.4% [5] - Weekly price changes include rebar up by 1.22%, cement price index down by 0.06%, rubber up by 0.33%, and iron ore up by 1.77% [5] - National blast furnace capacity utilization rate, cement, and asphalt operating rates changed by -0.39 percentage points, +12.41 percentage points, and -2.4 percentage points respectively [5] Group 3: Real Estate Completion Chain - Prices for titanium dioxide and glass are at low levels, with titanium dioxide price unchanged and flat glass down by 1.09% [6] - The gross profit for titanium dioxide is -1,744 yuan per ton, while the flat glass operating rate is at 73.89% [6] Group 4: Industrial Products Chain - The national PMI new orders index for December stands at 50.80% [7] - Major commodity price changes include cold-rolled steel down by 0.26%, copper down by 0.32%, and aluminum up by 0.50% [7] - The operating rate for semi-steel tires is at 69.35%, down by 2.70 percentage points [7] Group 5: Subcategories - The price of graphite electrodes is at 19,000 yuan per ton, unchanged, with a gross profit of 2,094.1 yuan per ton, up by 1.63% [8] - The price of electrolytic aluminum is 22,170 yuan per ton, up by 0.50%, with a calculated profit of 5,015 yuan per ton (excluding tax), up by 1.98% [8] - The price of tungsten concentrate is 454,500 yuan per ton, down by 1.30% from the previous week [8] Group 6: Price Comparison Relationships - The price ratio of rebar to iron ore is 4.04 this week [10] - The price difference between hot-rolled and rebar steel is -30 yuan per ton [10] - The price difference between small rebar (mainly used in real estate) and large rebar (mainly used in infrastructure) is 300 yuan per ton, up by 50% from last week [10] Group 7: Export Chain - The new export orders PMI for China in December is 49.00%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points [11] - The CCFI comprehensive index for container shipping rates is 1,146.67 points, up by 1.95% [11] - The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced that from January 1, 2026, certain steel products will be subject to export license management, which is expected to further regulate steel exports [11] Group 8: Valuation Percentiles - The CSI 300 index decreased by 0.59%, with the best-performing cyclical sector being oil and gas, up by 3.92% [12] - The PB ratio of ordinary steel and industrial metals relative to the PB of the two markets is 31.57% and 100.00% respectively [12] - The current PB ratio of the ordinary steel sector relative to the two markets is 0.51, with the highest value since 2013 being 0.82 [12]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the steel and non-ferrous metals sectors [5] Core Insights - The report highlights that hot-rolled inventory is at its highest level for the same period in five years, indicating potential supply chain pressures [41] - The liquidity environment is characterized by a historical high in gold prices, with the London gold spot price reaching $4,533 per ounce [11] - The report notes a decline in construction activity, with national real estate new starts down 20.50% year-on-year for the first 11 months of 2025 [20] Summary by Relevant Sections Liquidity - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for December 2025 is at 47.15, down 10.19% month-on-month [11] - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference was -3.1 percentage points in November 2025, a decrease of 1.10 percentage points month-on-month [18] - The current London gold price is $4,533 per ounce, reflecting a 4.41% increase from the previous week [11] Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - Hot-rolled inventory is at the highest level for the same period in five years, with rebar prices down 1.20% this week [41] - The national high furnace capacity utilization rate is at 85%, unchanged from the previous week [10] - The cement price index has decreased by 0.49% this week, with a national cement utilization rate of 30.14%, down 0.9 percentage points [59] Industrial Chain - The national semi-steel tire operating rate is at 72.05%, up 0.66 percentage points week-on-week [2] - The price of tungsten concentrate has reached a new high since 2012, at 460,500 yuan per ton, up 6.35% from last week [2] - The price of electrolytic aluminum is 22,060 yuan per ton, reflecting a 1.01% increase week-on-week [10] Price Relationships - The price difference between hot-rolled and rebar has turned positive, with the current difference at 10 yuan per ton [3] - The price ratio of rebar to iron ore is 4.02 this week [3] - The price of stainless steel hot-rolled and electrolytic nickel has a ratio of 0.10 [3] Export Chain - The new export orders PMI for China in November is 47.60%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points month-on-month [3] - The CCFI composite index for container shipping rates is at 1,146.67 points, up 1.95% week-on-week [3] - The U.S. crude steel capacity utilization rate is at 75.30%, down 1.20 percentage points from the previous week [3] Valuation Metrics - The CSI 300 index increased by 1.95%, with the chemical sector performing best at +4.23% [4] - The PB ratio for the steel sector relative to the CSI 300 is currently at 0.50, with a historical high of 0.82 [4] - The report suggests that the steel sector's supply may be reasonably constrained, leading to potential recovery in profitability to historical average levels [4]

Market Overview - The overall market experienced a rise and then a pullback, with the Shanghai Composite Index increasing by 0.07%, marking five consecutive days of gains, and total market turnover exceeding 1.9 trillion yuan [1] - The CSI 300 Index and the CSI A500 Index both rose by 0.2%, while the ChiNext Index and the STAR Market 50 Index increased by 0.4% [1] Sector Performance - Active sectors included photolithography machines, batteries, and energy metals, while tourism and commercial aerospace sectors saw adjustments [1] - In the Hong Kong market, there was a fluctuation with most AI industry chain stocks weakening, and the innovative drug sector experienced a rise followed by a pullback [1] Index Details - The CSI 300 Index consists of 300 stocks from the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets, with a rolling P/E ratio of 14.1 times, placing it in the 62.7 percentile since its inception in 2005 [2] - The CSI A500 Index is made up of 500 securities from various industries, with a rolling P/E ratio of 16.8 times, ranking in the 72.6 percentile since its launch in 2004 [2] - The STAR Market 50 Index, which tracks the top 50 stocks on the STAR Market, has a rolling P/E ratio of 159.3 times, placing it in the 96.2 percentile since its introduction in 2020 [3] - The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, which includes 50 large and actively traded stocks from mainland China listed in Hong Kong, has a rolling P/E ratio of 10.4 times, ranking in the 63.4 percentile since 2002 [4]

Core Insights - The report emphasizes the importance of macroeconomic research as a critical component of the investment system, suggesting that many past concerns about the Chinese economy were overblown, and a new narrative focusing on innovation and industrial manufacturing is emerging [1] - It highlights the cyclical nature of stock valuations, indicating that understanding undervaluation and overvaluation is essential for successful investment strategies [1] - The steel industry is currently positioned at an absolute undervaluation, presenting a significant opportunity for value investment, with expectations of recovery in capital returns as capacity utilization improves [4] Industry Trends - The report notes that the steel industry is entering a long-term decline phase following industrial maturity, characterized by stable demand and low capital returns, with a projected capacity utilization rate of 82% in 2026 [4] - It discusses the cyclical trajectory of the steel industry, indicating that the current low capital returns are conducive to supply adjustments and potential mergers within the industry [4] - The report anticipates that the marginal recovery in capacity utilization in 2026 will further enhance capital returns in the steel sector, contingent on effective policy implementation [4] Investment Strategy - The report recommends focusing on companies that are likely to benefit from improving capital returns, such as Baosteel, Hesteel, Nanjing Steel, and Xinyu Steel, as they are expected to provide significant investment value despite having moved away from absolute undervaluation [4] - It emphasizes the need for a detailed approach to selecting specific stocks within the steel sector, as the overall market dynamics shift towards a more stable economic environment [4] - The report suggests that the investment strategy should adapt to the changing economic landscape, where excess capital in society will influence market trends and stock valuations [4]

Market Overview - A-shares experienced a collective adjustment in the morning session, with the major indices showing declines. The CSI 500 Index fell by 0.7%, the CSI 300 Index also decreased by 0.7%, the ChiNext Index dropped by 0.9%, and the STAR Market 50 Index declined by 1.1% [1] - The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong showed weakness, with declines in the non-ferrous metals and consumer staples sectors, resulting in a 1.4% drop in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index [1] Index Performance - The CSI 300 Index, which consists of 300 large-cap stocks from the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets, had a rolling P/E ratio of 14.4 times and fell by 0.7% [3] - The CSI 500 Index, covering 500 stocks with good liquidity, had a rolling P/E ratio of 16.9 times and also decreased by 0.7% [3] - The ChiNext Index, which includes 100 large-cap stocks in the ChiNext market, had a rolling P/E ratio of 41.9 times and fell by 0.9% [3] - The STAR Market 50 Index, focusing on large-cap stocks in the STAR Market, had a rolling P/E ratio of 176.0 times and declined by 1.1% [4] - The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, which tracks 50 large-cap Chinese companies listed in Hong Kong, had a rolling P/E ratio of 10.8 times and decreased by 1.4% [4]