Core Viewpoint - The last trading day of January saw a significant market drop, primarily driven by the sharp decline in the metals sector, leading to the largest single-day drop in the index since 2026, with the Shanghai Composite Index falling by 2% at one point before closing down 0.96% [1] Market Performance - In January, growth-oriented indices performed well, with the Sci-Tech 100, Sci-Tech 50, and CSI 500 rising by 13.83%, 12.29%, and 12.12% respectively [1][3] - Blue-chip indices showed relatively weaker performance, with the CSI A50 and Shanghai 50 increasing by only 0.45% and 1.17% respectively [1][4] ETF Performance - The top ten core ETFs in January recorded a 6.51% increase, outperforming the CSI 300 index by 4.86 percentage points [6] - The metals ETF was the best performer, rising by 21.38% in January, with significant net inflows of 172.45 billion yuan [7] - The chip ETF and chemical ETF also performed well, increasing by 18.06% and 11.41% respectively [6] Metals Sector Insights - The metals sector experienced a comprehensive surge, with precious metals reaching historical highs and industrial metals also seeing significant price increases [7] - Key factors driving this performance include supply constraints, demand from AI and renewable energy sectors, geopolitical tensions increasing safe-haven demand, macro liquidity easing, and sustained central bank gold purchases [8] Chemical Sector Insights - The chemical sector showed strong performance in January, with the chemical ETF rising by 11% [9] - The sector's growth is attributed to a combination of supply-side adjustments, demand shifts, and macroeconomic conditions, indicating a transition to a new cycle of value reassessment [10] - Policies aimed at curbing excessive capacity expansion and promoting high-quality growth are expected to support the sector's recovery [10]