Core Viewpoints - The report reiterates the focus on "price increase" opportunities due to current market conditions, including geopolitical disturbances and upcoming quarterly reports, suggesting that sectors with price increase expectations are the most certain investment opportunities [1][2][3] Supply and Demand Dynamics - The current price increase trend is similar to that of 2020-2021, driven by global monetary easing and structural supply-demand mismatches in various industries, such as the semiconductor sector affected by pandemic-induced demand shifts [2][3] - The semiconductor industry, particularly storage, is experiencing price increases due to AI demand, with potential future impacts from tightened rare earth exports affecting supply chains [2][3] Metal Sector Precious Metals - Gold and silver are seen as strategic assets, with gold benefiting from geopolitical instability and central bank purchases, while silver has both precious and industrial metal attributes, showing strong price support due to supply-demand gaps [4][6] Minor Metals - Prices for cobalt, tungsten, antimony, and rare earths are expected to rise due to export restrictions and increasing demand from downstream industries, with cobalt's price expected to rise following changes in export regulations [6][8] Chemical Sector - The PTA industry is anticipated to recover as major players seek to improve profitability through potential production cuts, while pesticide prices, particularly glyphosate, have seen significant increases [7][8] Semiconductor Sector - The storage chip market is entering a growth phase driven by recovering consumer electronics and unexpected AI server demand, leading to price hikes across various storage products [8][9] New Energy Sector Battery and Raw Materials - The demand for energy storage and power batteries is surging, with rising raw material costs pushing up battery prices, particularly for lithium iron phosphate and electrolyte [9][10] Wind Power - The wind power sector is witnessing a rebound in bidding prices due to industry self-regulation and increased global demand for wind installations [11][12] Photovoltaic Silicon - The multi-crystalline silicon industry is seeing a reduction in effective capacity due to policy-driven supply-side adjustments, moving towards a more balanced supply-demand scenario [12] Copper Clad Laminate - The demand for copper clad laminate is increasing due to rising capital expenditures from major internet companies, leading to price increases from manufacturers [13] Diesel Generators/UPS Lead-Acid Batteries - The demand for diesel generators and UPS lead-acid batteries is growing rapidly due to the expansion of data centers, with supply constraints leading to price increases [14]

Core Viewpoint - Multiple well-known companies in the U.S. are implementing price increases in May, indicating a trend of rising costs across various sectors. Group 1: E-commerce and Retail - E-commerce giants Temu and Shein issued nearly identical price increase notifications [1] - Retail giants Walmart and Macy's announced price hikes in May [1] - Toy manufacturer Mattel announced price increases for certain products in the U.S. in early May [1] Group 2: Apparel and Footwear - Nike announced price increases for athletic shoes priced between $100 and $150, with a maximum increase of $5 [1] - Apparel brand Ralph Lauren plans to raise prices more significantly than initially planned to offset tariff impacts [1] Group 3: Technology and Automotive - Microsoft raised the suggested retail prices for its Xbox consoles and controllers globally in early May [1] - Ford increased the prices of three models produced in Mexico, with the highest increase reaching $2,000 [1] - Subaru announced price hikes for several models, effective in June [1] Group 4: Tools and Consumer Goods - Tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker raised prices in April and plans to increase them again in the third quarter [1] - Procter & Gamble indicated that it may need to pass price increases onto consumers, with potential price hikes visible as early as July [1]