Report Industry Investment Rating - The short - term trend of precious metals is rated as "oscillating weakly", and the long - term trend remains bullish [1][3] Core Viewpoints - Trade frictions ease, leading to a decline in safe - haven demand and a short - term weakening of precious metal prices. However, the expectation of interest rate cuts still provides support, and trading within the range with strict risk control is recommended [1] - The precious metals have entered a phased adjustment, but the long - term bullish trend remains unchanged due to factors such as debt over - issuance and the decline of the US dollar's credit [3] Summary by Relevant Catalogs Key Information - The US and China reached a "substantive framework" in Kuala Lumpur, and the threat of 100% tariffs on China was lifted; the assessment of rare - earth related controls was postponed [2] - The US CPI in September was lower than expected, leading the market to price in further interest rate cuts this week and this year [2] - Due to the government shutdown, the release of inflation data in October may be delayed, increasing the market's bet on interest rate cuts and the halt of balance - sheet reduction [2] - The US fiscal deficit in Q3 reached $1.55 trillion, a year - on - year increase of about 40%, driving the market's bet on long - term monetary easing [2] - The ECB may consider reducing the emergency bond - buying program this year if external shocks are controllable [2] - Global central banks net - purchased about 38 tons of gold in September, with the People's Bank of China increasing its holdings for the 23rd consecutive month [2] - The Philippine central bank is considering selling part of its "excessive" gold reserves as the demand for safe - haven weakens [2] Price Logic - Gold has started a phased adjustment, with short - term prices being suppressed by the easing of trade tensions. The focus in Q4 is on the December window period. In the long run, gold remains a core asset to hedge against the risk of the US dollar's credit decline [3] - Silver's short - term price movement is in line with that of gold, also entering a phased adjustment. The short - term price is affected by policies and risk sentiment, and the long - term price center will rise with gold [3][6] Outlook - This week, attention should be paid to the signals of the FOMC's interest rate cuts and balance - sheet reduction, as well as the details of trade negotiations. The weekly price range for London gold is [3950 - 4200], and for London silver is [46 - 52] [6]

Key Insights - The current federal government shutdown lacks a debt ceiling component, which reduces immediate risks compared to past shutdowns [6][7] - Economic data releases are delayed or postponed, impacting market navigation and decision-making for investors [6][8] - The U.S. Treasury market is expected to operate normally without concerns over redemptions or new issuances due to the increased debt ceiling [7][8] Economic Data - Major economic indicators such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Retail Sales, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are likely to be delayed if the shutdown continues [6][8] - Investors may need to rely on alternative private data sources, such as ISM and S&P Global PMI, until official data is released [13] Federal Reserve & Interest Rates - The Federal Reserve is not expected to cut rates during the current FOMC meeting despite the shutdown, maintaining a focus on risk management [13] - The UST 10-Year yield is anticipated to remain stable until economic data resumes [13]

Group 1 - The U.S. national debt has surged from $16 trillion in 2013 to over $32 trillion, with interest payments projected to reach nearly $1 trillion in 2024, indicating unsustainable fiscal policies [2][4] - The debt-to-GDP ratio is approaching 130%, which is considered high among developed countries, raising concerns among economists about long-term sustainability [4] - Foreign ownership of U.S. debt has decreased, with China reducing its holdings to $730.7 billion, the lowest since 2008, as geopolitical tensions and currency diversification strategies take precedence [4][6] Group 2 - The overall foreign ownership of U.S. debt has dropped from a peak of 30% to around 23%, with significant reductions from various foreign investors, including the Cayman Islands and European tax havens [7] - U.S. domestic institutions hold over $20 trillion in debt, but this internal transfer does not alleviate the burden of interest payments, which are projected to reach $230.6 billion in 2024 [7][9] - The U.S. housing market is under pressure, with a total housing market value exceeding $55.1 trillion, but new home sales are declining due to high mortgage rates, which remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels [9][11] Group 3 - The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in March 2023 highlighted vulnerabilities in the banking system, leading to tighter credit conditions and impacting the real estate sector [11][13] - Economic indicators show a mixed picture for the U.S., with a GDP contraction of 0.5% in Q1 2025, followed by a rebound of 3.8% in Q2, but persistent inflation and high unemployment rates remain concerns [13][15] - The IMF projects global growth at 2.8%, with emerging markets, particularly China, expected to drive a significant portion of this growth, while the U.S. faces challenges from high debt and low growth [15][17] Group 4 - The trend of decoupling from the U.S. dollar is evident, with countries reassessing their investments in U.S. assets, leading to a potential restructuring of global supply chains [17] - The overall investment climate in the U.S. is weakening, with forecasts indicating that the economic recovery may not be sustainable, and inflation pressures continue to pose risks [17]

Core Points - The U.S. banking system's reserves have increased for the first time in nine weeks, surpassing $3 trillion [1] - As of the week ending October 8, bank reserves rose by approximately $54 billion, reaching $3.034 trillion [1] - Prior to this increase, reserves had been declining for eight consecutive weeks, marking the longest continuous drop since July 2020 [1] Summary by Relevant Sections - **Bank Reserves**: The increase in bank reserves is a significant indicator for the Federal Reserve's decision to continue reducing its balance sheet [1] - **Recent Trends**: The decline in reserves was influenced by the U.S. Treasury's increased issuance of debt following the raising of the debt ceiling in July, aimed at rebuilding cash balances [1] - **Liquidity Impact**: The reduction in reserves was also linked to the depletion of liquidity in other Federal Reserve liabilities, such as the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) agreements [1]

Core Viewpoint - The recurring government shutdowns in the U.S. have become a normalized event, with the latest occurring on October 1, 2025, impacting over 800,000 federal employees and delaying crucial economic data, yet the financial markets remain largely unaffected [2][3][4]. Group 1: Impact on Economic Data - The shutdown has led to the postponement of key economic reports such as non-farm payroll and CPI data, creating challenges for analysts who must rely on private data sources to estimate employment rates [3][4]. - The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a one-month shutdown could reduce GDP by 0.3 percentage points, with unemployment potentially rising to between 4.8% and 5% [3]. Group 2: Market Reactions - Despite the shutdown, bond yields have shown minimal volatility, and the stock market continues to perform well, indicating a detachment from political events [3][4]. - Market participants appear to have developed a "selective blindness" towards political uncertainties, leading to a temporary reduction in market volatility [5]. Group 3: Long-term Implications - The ongoing political dysfunction and inability to pass budgets are eroding government credibility, which could have long-term consequences for economic stability and investor trust [4][6]. - The U.S. public debt has surpassed $35 trillion, over 130% of GDP, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability and the potential for a future financial crisis if political solutions remain ineffective [5][6]. Group 4: Global Trust and Currency Stability - The international standing of the U.S. dollar relies heavily on global trust in American institutions; frequent fiscal chaos may prompt other nations to diversify their reserves away from the dollar [6][8]. - Central banks worldwide have been increasing their holdings of gold and non-dollar assets, indicating a growing concern over the reliability of U.S. fiscal policy [6][8].

Core Insights - The potential government shutdown in the U.S. poses "invisible risks" to economic growth, key economic data, and specific financial instruments, although it does not present a systemic risk of default as seen in 2013 [1][2][8] Economic Impact - A comprehensive government shutdown could lead to 800,000 federal employees being furloughed, resulting in a weekly reduction of approximately 0.2 percentage points in annualized real GDP growth [1][5] - The previous shutdown in 2013 resulted in a $8 billion decline in annualized federal consumption expenditure, which ultimately reduced the fourth-quarter GDP growth by 30 basis points (0.3%) [5] - Even without a shutdown, federal government spending has already been a drag on GDP growth, contributing to an average reduction of about 40 basis points for the first half of 2025 [7] Data Release Delays - The shutdown would delay the release of critical economic data such as employment reports and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as employees from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) may be furloughed [3][4] - Historical data from the 2013 shutdown indicates that the release of employment and CPI data was significantly delayed, leading to a chaotic data release schedule [3][4] Financial Instruments Impact - The delay in CPI data will have specific implications for financial instruments such as Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and inflation swaps, affecting their valuation and cash flows [9][11] - TIPS payments will be calculated using a backup index based on the most recent annualized inflation rate if the September CPI report is not released on time [11] - Inflation swaps will follow a different protocol, using actual data if released within five business days of the payment date; otherwise, a backup calculation will be employed [11]

Group 1 - The U.S. federal debt reached the statutory limit of $31.4 trillion on January 19, 2023, triggering a debt ceiling crisis that required urgent action from Congress [2] - The U.S. Treasury Secretary warned that failure to raise the debt ceiling could lead to delayed payments for social security and military salaries, highlighting the urgency of the situation [2] - The Fiscal Responsibility Act was passed on June 3, 2023, suspending the debt ceiling until January 1, 2025, effectively increasing the borrowing capacity by several trillion dollars [2] Group 2 - The U.S. has been facing repeated debt ceiling crises due to excessive spending, including pandemic stimulus plans and military expenditures, which have significantly increased the national debt [2] - Credit rating agencies, such as Moody's and S&P, have downgraded the U.S. credit outlook, reflecting concerns about the country's fiscal health and its impact on international confidence [3] Group 3 - China is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt, with holdings around $800 billion in early 2023, accounting for over 10% of total foreign ownership [4] - During the 2023 debt crisis, the U.S. sought to encourage China to increase its purchases of U.S. debt to stabilize the market, as a reduction in Chinese holdings could lead to increased volatility in bond yields [4] Group 4 - Contrary to U.S. expectations, China began to reduce its holdings of U.S. debt, decreasing from $800 billion to $770 billion in the first half of 2023, and further down to $750 billion by the end of the year [6] - By March 2024, China had sold a total of $400 billion in U.S. debt, indicating a strategic shift towards diversifying its reserves amid geopolitical tensions and reduced trade surpluses [6] Group 5 - The U.S. Treasury Secretary publicly emphasized the importance of the U.S. debt market for global stability, urging China not to withdraw its investments [7] - Despite the U.S. government's concerns, China's response has been to maintain a market-driven approach to its foreign reserves, leading to a gradual reduction in U.S. debt holdings [7] Group 6 - The U.S. military has increased its presence in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, coinciding with the debt ceiling crisis, indicating a dual strategy of economic stability and military pressure [9][10] - The frequency of U.S. military aircraft operations in the Taiwan Strait has increased, reflecting ongoing tensions and the U.S. commitment to monitoring Chinese military activities [10] Group 7 - The U.S. faces a challenging situation where rising debt interest payments are projected to exceed 3% of GDP by 2025, while military spending continues to escalate, exceeding $900 billion in the fiscal year 2025 [14] - Analysts suggest that if China continues to sell off U.S. debt, bond yields could rise above 5%, complicating the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rate cuts [14] Group 8 - The ongoing military pressure from the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region is seen as a way to balance China's influence while simultaneously seeking to stabilize the U.S. debt market [12][15] - The dual approach of seeking Chinese investment in U.S. debt while increasing military presence in sensitive regions reflects the complexities of U.S. foreign policy amid economic challenges [15]

Group 1 - Overregulation and a risk-averse regulatory culture are institutional barriers to innovation in Europe [4][5] - The European Union is criticized for focusing on bureaucracy, taxes, and regulation, hindering reform and innovation [4][5] - The report led by former ECB President Draghi calls for increased investment and competitiveness in the EU, but achieving this is deemed nearly impossible [4] Group 2 - The U.S. federal government debt has surpassed $37 trillion, with a rapid accumulation of debt over the past few years [2][3] - Net interest payments on the national debt reached $880 billion last fiscal year, a 33.9% increase year-on-year, and are projected to hit $1.2 trillion this fiscal year [2] - The Trump administration's fiscal policies, including the "big and beautiful" act, have not effectively addressed the underlying fiscal imbalance, leading to increased deficits [2][3] Group 3 - The European economy is facing a structural crisis characterized by high debt, weak growth, and insufficient innovation [5] - The combination of high debt levels and low growth is squeezing fiscal space and undermining competitiveness [5] - There is a pressing need for structural reforms in labor markets, welfare systems, and capital markets in Europe, but current political conditions make these reforms increasingly unlikely [5]

Debt Growth and Historical Context - The U.S. federal debt has increased significantly, from $10.6 trillion at the end of Obama's term to $36.2 trillion at the end of Biden's term, with an acceleration in growth rates[3][22] - The first $12 trillion took over 200 years to accumulate, the second $12 trillion took about 10 years, and the third $12 trillion took less than 5 years[22] - As of August 11, 2025, the U.S. debt surpassed $37 trillion[22] Interest Burden and Fiscal Impact - Net interest expenditure for FY 2024 is projected to reach approximately $881.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 33.9%, accounting for over 13% of total expenditures[4][22] - Each percentage point increase in interest rates could result in an additional $360 billion in refinancing costs annually[4][22] Current Challenges Facing U.S. Debt - The federal debt for FY 2024 is $35.5 trillion, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 123%, which is lower than Japan (220.8%) and Greece (181.6%), but higher than Germany (60.0%) and France (108.6%)[11][37] - The average annual debt growth from FY 2022 to FY 2024 exceeds $2.3 trillion, approximately $64.3 billion per day, doubling the growth rate from FY 2017 to FY 2019[12][43] - Mandatory spending, including Medicare and Social Security, constitutes 60.1% of total expenditures in FY 2024, making cuts difficult[12][44] Political and Economic Pressures - Political motivations favor fiscal stimulus to maximize voter support, with 90% of surveyed individuals indicating the importance of Social Security in voting decisions[12][46] - The recent "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending bill is expected to increase the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, potentially adding $3.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade[13][22]

Group 1: Market Trends and Influences - The implementation of the "Inflation Reduction Act" has raised concerns about increased U.S. Treasury supply in the second half of the year due to tax cuts and higher debt ceilings[2] - After the debt ceiling was lifted in June 2023, U.S. Treasury yields entered an upward trend, influenced by supply acceleration, economic resilience, and tight monetary policy[4] - In Q3 2023, U.S. Treasury yields rose contrary to economic weakness, primarily driven by increased bond supply[4] Group 2: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The Treasury's net financing demand for Q3 2023 was significantly raised to $1.007 trillion, the second-highest since 2021, exceeding the previous estimate of $733 billion[40] - Actual supply exceeded planned issuance, with August 2023 seeing an additional $59.1 billion issued compared to plans, contributing to rising yields[4] - Demand for U.S. Treasuries weakened, with major buyers like the Federal Reserve and foreign investors reducing holdings, leading to a shift towards more price-sensitive buyers[64] Group 3: Yield and Volatility Analysis - The yield curve inversion deepened as short-term debt supply increased and was more sensitive to monetary policy, with the 10-year and 2-year Treasury yield spread widening in May 2023 and narrowing in September[4] - The MOVE index, which measures bond market volatility, remained elevated in the second half of 2023, reflecting uncertainty in monetary policy and economic resilience[4] - The 10-year Treasury yield's term premium rose significantly after the debt ceiling was lifted, indicating increased market concerns about future supply[20]