Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No investment rating for the industry is provided in the report. 2. Core View of the Report The report indicates that the inflation in the US in September met market expectations, clearing the last obstacle for the Fed to restart the interest - rate cut process in September. The expectation of Fed's interest - rate cut has pushed up the US stock market, which has partially weakened the safe - haven demand for gold. However, the expectation of improved industrial demand brought by the Fed's interest - rate cut has led to the upward movement of precious metals. Gold has started a new upward trend, and this trend may continue until the spring and summer of 2026. Investors are advised to maintain a long - bias trading strategy, and short - hedgers can appropriately reduce their hedging ratios. Silver, with its strong industrial attributes, will also rise following the gold price and may even outperform gold in terms of gains due to its high volatility [4][5]. 3. Summary by Relevant Sections 3.1 Precious Metals Market Conditions and Outlook - **Intraday Market**: London gold is trading strongly above $3600 per ounce, and London silver has broken through the $42 per ounce mark. The gold price had a sideways shock from late April to August to digest the high - valuation pressure. With the Fed's interest - rate cut, the gold price broke through the resistance in early September and started a new upward trend [4]. - **Domestic Precious Metals Market**: The Shanghai Gold Index closed at 837.07, up 0.45%; the Shanghai Silver Index closed at 10,066, up 2.41%; Gold T + D closed at 830.30, up 0.51%; Silver T + D closed at 10,039, up 2.73% [5]. - **Medium - term Market**: From late April to early August, London gold fluctuated widely between $3100 - $3500 per ounce to digest the high - valuation pressure. Since August, the US employment and inflation situation has supported the Fed to restart the interest - rate cut process. Geopolitical risks also provide safe - haven demand for gold. From late August to early September, various factors jointly pushed the gold price to break through the $3500 per ounce mark, starting a new upward trend that may last until the spring and summer of 2026 [5]. 3.2 Main Macroeconomic Events/Data - **US Economic Data**: In August, the US consumer price had the largest increase in seven months, mainly due to rising housing and food costs. However, the number of initial jobless claims surged last week, and the Fed is still expected to cut interest rates next Wednesday. The CPI rose 0.4% month - on - month and 2.9% year - on - year in August, both being the largest increases since January. The core CPI rose 0.3% month - on - month and 3.1% year - on - year in August, consistent with the July increase. The number of initial jobless claims in the week ending September 6 increased by 27,000, reaching 263,000 after seasonal adjustment, the highest since October 2021 [17]. - **European Central Bank**: The ECB maintained interest rates as expected and was optimistic about growth and inflation, which curbed the market's expectation of further borrowing - cost cuts. ECB President Lagarde said that economic risks were "more balanced" than in June, but the inflation outlook was still more uncertain than usual. The ECB currently expects the inflation rate to be 1.9% in 2027, lower than the 2.0% forecast in June, and the core inflation rate to be 1.8%, also lower than the 2% target [17]. - **Trade - related News**: The US will pressure the G7 to raise tariffs on India and China for buying Russian oil. The US Commerce Secretary said that the US could reach a trade agreement with India if India stops buying Russian oil [18]. - **US Treasury Budget**: In August, the US budget deficit decreased by $35 billion or 9% year - on - year to $345 billion, as Trump's tariffs boosted net tariff revenues by about $22.5 billion. The cumulative deficit for the fiscal year as of August increased by $76 billion or 4% to $1.973 trillion, the third - highest in history [18].

Economic Growth Overview - In August, the industrial added value increased by 5.2% year-on-year, down from 5.7% in July, with a cumulative growth of 6.2% from January to August[1] - Retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.4% year-on-year in August, a decrease from 3.7% in July, with a cumulative growth of 4.6% from January to August[1] - Fixed asset investment saw a cumulative year-on-year growth of 0.5% from January to August, down from 1.6% in July[1] Industrial Production Insights - The slowdown in industrial production is attributed to weakened external demand and insufficient domestic demand, with August's industrial added value growth down by 0.5 percentage points[3][4] - Manufacturing output growth was 5.7% in August, a decline of 0.5 percentage points from the previous month, primarily impacting overall industrial growth[4] - Export delivery value for industrial enterprises fell by 0.4% year-on-year in August, marking the first negative growth since 2024[4] Consumer Spending Trends - The slowdown in retail sales is influenced by last year's consumption policies and declining food prices, with August's retail sales growth at 3.6%, down 0.4 percentage points from July[6] - Optional consumer goods retail sales showed improvement, likely due to the wealth effect from rising stock markets, with categories like clothing and cosmetics seeing increased sales growth[8] Investment Dynamics - Fixed asset investment growth for the first eight months was 0.5%, reflecting a decline of 1.1 percentage points from previous values, with all major investment sectors experiencing downturns[9][12] - Manufacturing investment growth was 5.1%, down 1.1 percentage points, while high-tech manufacturing sectors like computer and aerospace equipment saw significant growth rates of 12.6% and 28.0% respectively[10][11] Future Economic Outlook - Economic growth momentum is expected to remain weak in September, with industrial and retail growth potentially declining further, while investment growth may stabilize[2][15] - Anticipated macroeconomic policies in Q4 may include increased fiscal measures and interest rate cuts to counteract external demand slowdowns and support the real estate market[15]

Economic Indicators - August 2025 domestic CPI is expected to be approximately 0.1% month-on-month, with a year-on-year decline to -0.3%[3] - July 2025 PPI is projected to increase by about 0.4% month-on-month, with a significant year-on-year recovery to -2.5%[3] - Industrial added value is anticipated to rebound slightly to 6.0% year-on-year in August 2025[3] - Retail sales of consumer goods are expected to rise to 4.5% year-on-year in August 2025[3] Investment and Trade - Fixed asset investment is forecasted to continue declining, reaching a cumulative year-on-year growth of 1.3%[3] - Exports in dollar terms are projected to decrease to around 6.0% year-on-year[3] - Trade surplus for August 2025 is estimated at 992 million USD, up from 982 million USD in the previous period[4] Financial Metrics - Monthly increase in credit is expected to be 10,500 million CNY, a significant improvement from a decrease of 500 million CNY previously[4] - Total social financing is projected to increase by 26,000 million CNY for the month, compared to 11,320 million CNY previously[4] - M2 year-on-year growth rate is expected to remain stable at 8.8%[4]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call discusses the **Chinese economy** and its current challenges, particularly focusing on the economic performance in July 2025 and projections for the remainder of the year [1][21]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Economic Slowdown**: In July, domestic growth momentum weakened significantly, with retail sales growth slowing to **3.7%** year-on-year, below market expectations [1][5]. 2. **Investment Decline**: Overall fixed asset investment decreased by **5.2%** year-on-year, with both infrastructure and manufacturing investments declining [1][10]. 3. **Real Estate Market**: Real estate activities continued to decline, with sales down **7.8%** year-on-year and new construction area down **15.4%** [6][26]. 4. **Industrial Production**: Industrial production growth fell to **5.7%** year-on-year, indicating a slowdown in manufacturing output [1][12]. 5. **Export Recovery**: Despite a decline in exports to the US, overall export growth improved to **7.2%** year-on-year, supported by lower base effects [1][11]. 6. **Inflation Metrics**: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate fell to **0%**, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) dropped by **3.6%** year-on-year [1][17]. 7. **Credit Market**: July saw a contraction in new RMB loans for the first time in 20 years, with a reduction of **500 billion RMB**, indicating weak credit demand [1][18]. Additional Important Insights 1. **Policy Measures**: The government has introduced several support measures, including childcare subsidies and consumer loan interest subsidies, but the scale of these measures is expected to be moderate [3][32]. 2. **Future Challenges**: The economic outlook remains cautious, with expectations of continued challenges in the real estate sector and consumer spending due to weak income growth and consumer confidence [2][27]. 3. **Trade Relations**: Ongoing US-China trade negotiations are expected to prolong tariff uncertainties, which may negatively impact export growth in the coming months [22][24]. 4. **Government Stimulus**: Potential fiscal stimulus measures may be introduced in Q3 or Q4, depending on economic data trends, with a baseline GDP growth forecast of **4.7%** for 2025 [3][32]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, highlighting the current state of the Chinese economy, the challenges it faces, and the government's response to these challenges.

Economic Performance Overview - 31 provinces have released their economic "report cards" for the first half of the year, with Guangdong and Jiangsu leading the "6 trillion yuan club" [1][2] - Guangdong achieved a GDP of 6.87 trillion yuan, while Jiangsu followed closely with 6.7 trillion yuan; Shandong exceeded 5 trillion yuan [4] - 20 provinces reported GDP growth rates above the national level of 5.3% [7] Growth Dynamics - Advanced manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing sectors showed rapid growth, with value-added increasing by 5.9% and 6.0% respectively, accounting for 55.4% and 33.0% of industrial value-added [11] - Emerging industries are developing well, indicating a trend towards structural adjustment and high-quality development [11][17] Regional Economic Trends - The central and western provinces have emerged as new engines of national economic growth, benefiting from industrial upgrades and major project constructions [14][17] - The economic reports highlight a clear regional economic differentiation, with central and western regions performing notably well [17] Future Economic Strategies - Provinces are focusing on three key areas for the second half of the year: expanding domestic demand, developing new productive forces, and stabilizing foreign trade [20] - Various regions are implementing measures to boost consumption, such as cultural and sports events that drive revenue growth [23] Trade and Market Diversification - Industry experts emphasize the need to stabilize the foreign trade base and support enterprises in exploring diversified international markets [25]

Core Viewpoint - The global foreign exchange market is at a critical juncture, influenced by divergent monetary policies of major central banks, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and mixed macroeconomic data, challenging the dominance of the US dollar while the euro and yen struggle within their respective economic cycles [1]. Group 1: US Dollar Index (DXY) - The DXY is currently oscillating around 97.551, reflecting the market's reliance on the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance while harboring deep concerns about the US economic growth outlook [2]. - The market anticipates the Fed will maintain a tight monetary policy to combat persistent inflation, with rate hike expectations cooling but nearly no anticipation for rate cuts this year, providing solid support for the dollar [2][3]. - Recent economic data presents a mixed picture, with strong labor market indicators supporting the Fed's tightening policy, while weak manufacturing and housing data indicate cooling in interest-sensitive sectors, creating a dilemma for the dollar's movement [3]. Group 2: Euro/USD (EUR/USD) - The EUR/USD struggles around 1.17410, reflecting the European Central Bank's (ECB) difficult balancing act between combating inflation and concerns over economic recession [4]. - The ECB's decision to maintain the deposit rate at 2.00% is not surprising, but President Lagarde's "data-dependent" approach suggests a strategy of "buying time" amid complex challenges [5]. - The risk of fragmentation within the Eurozone, indicated by the widening yield spread between German and Italian bonds, poses a significant threat to the euro's upward potential unless a strong economic recovery occurs [6]. Group 3: Dollar/Yen (USD/JPY) - The USD/JPY trades around 147.058, amid speculation regarding the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) potential exit from its long-standing negative interest rate and yield curve control policies [7]. - The BoJ faces increasing pressure to normalize its policy as domestic inflation stabilizes above 2%, with market expectations for action in the coming quarters, which could reshape global capital flows [7]. - The timing of the BoJ's policy shift remains uncertain, as premature tightening could jeopardize economic recovery and impact Japan's substantial government debt market [8]. Group 4: Other Currencies and Strategic Outlook - The forex market is driven by three main themes: divergence in monetary policies among the Fed, ECB, and BoJ; the momentum of global economic growth; and evolving geopolitical and trade relationships [10]. - The GBP/USD reflects the UK's "stagflation" dilemma, while the AUD/USD's outlook is closely tied to China's economic recovery, and the USD/CAD is significantly influenced by oil price fluctuations [11]. - A core-satellite strategy is recommended, focusing on the dollar while allocating positions in euros and yen based on specific drivers, emphasizing the importance of data analysis and central bank communications [12].

Economic Overview - The Federal Reserve's "Beige Book" indicates a slight increase in economic activity from late May to early July, but high uncertainty persists, leading businesses to remain cautious [1] - The U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) remained flat in June, with a year-on-year increase of 2.3%, marking the lowest annual growth since September of the previous year [1] Inflation and Price Trends - The UK's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 3.6% in June, up from 3.4% in May, the highest level since January 2024 [3] - The core CPI in the UK also increased from 3.5% in May to 3.7% in June, driven by rising prices in fuel, air travel, and food [3] Central Bank Activities - The World Gold Council reports that 19 out of 36 surveyed central banks are purchasing gold directly from local miners using their own currencies, indicating a growing appetite for gold [2] - Four additional central banks are considering adopting this practice, reflecting a shift in gold procurement strategies [2] Market Dynamics - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 231.49 points to close at 44,254.78, a gain of 0.53% [4] - The S&P 500 index increased by 19.94 points to 6,263.7, up 0.32%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 52.69 points to close at 20,730.49, a rise of 0.25% [4] Commodity Prices - COMEX gold futures increased by 0.52% to $3,354.20 per ounce, while silver futures rose by 0.04% to $38.13 per ounce [5] - Light crude oil futures for August delivery fell by $0.14 to $66.38 per barrel, a decrease of 0.21% [5] Currency Exchange Rates - The U.S. dollar index decreased by 0.23%, closing at 98.392 [5] - The onshore Chinese yuan closed at 7.1776 against the U.S. dollar, down 42 basis points from the previous trading day [6]

Economic Indicators - May 2025 domestic CPI is expected to decrease by 0.4% month-on-month and year-on-year[3] - May 2025 PPI is projected to decline by 0.3% month-on-month and 3.2% year-on-year[3] - Industrial added value is anticipated to slightly drop to 5.5% year-on-year in May 2025[3] - Retail sales of consumer goods are expected to decrease to 5.0% year-on-year in May 2025[3] - Fixed asset investment is forecasted to remain stable at 4.0% year-on-year[3] Trade and Financing - Exports in May 2025 are expected to rise by approximately 8.5% year-on-year[3] - Imports are projected to increase by 4.5% year-on-year[4] - Trade surplus is estimated at $971 million in May 2025[4] - Monthly increase in credit is expected to be 11,000 million yuan[4] - Total social financing is projected to increase by 22,000 million yuan in May 2025[4]

Economic Growth - The Guosen High-Frequency Macro Diffusion Index A turned negative, indicating a decline in economic momentum[1] - Index B decreased, with investment and real estate sectors showing a downturn while consumer sector remained stable[1] - Seasonal analysis shows Index B typically rises by an average of 0.17 weekly post-Spring Festival, but this week it fell by 0.43, underperforming historical averages[1] Price Trends - Food prices are expected to decline by approximately -1.0% month-on-month in May, while non-food prices are projected to decrease by -0.2%, leading to an overall CPI decline of -0.4%[2] - The PPI is anticipated to drop by -0.2% month-on-month, with a year-on-year decrease of -3.1%[2] Market Predictions - Current domestic interest rates are low, while the Shanghai Composite Index is high, suggesting a potential rise in the ten-year government bond yield and a decline in the Shanghai Composite Index next week[1][19] - The predicted ten-year government bond yield for the week of May 30, 2025, is 2.28%, while the Shanghai Composite Index is forecasted to be 3,099.44[20]

Global Economy and Inflation - Global economic activity is on the rise, with the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) averaging 894.6 points as of February 21, 2025, an increase of 103.00 points from the previous week [3][14] - The CRB Commodity Price Index averaged 314.99 points for the week, up by 2.53 points, indicating rising inflation levels [3][18] Domestic Economy and Inflation - China's official manufacturing PMI for January 2025 is at 49.1%, a decrease of 1.0 percentage points from the previous month, indicating economic contraction [4][23] - The average price of pork in China was 27.58 yuan per kilogram as of February 13, 2025, down by 0.66 yuan from the previous week, reflecting stable inflation [4][31] Industrial Production - The operating rate of high furnaces in China was 77.66% as of February 21, 2025, a decrease of 0.34 percentage points from the previous week [5][40] - The operating rate for rebar steel mills increased to 39.68%, up by 4.92 percentage points, indicating a mixed trend in industrial production [5][41] Consumption - Essential goods consumption remains stable, with the Keqiao Textile Price Index at 104.07 points, down by 0.24 points [6][53] - The average daily sales of passenger cars in China increased to 52,700 units as of February 16, 2025, up by 28,300 units from the previous week, indicating a rise in discretionary spending [6][58] Investment - Real estate transactions in 30 major cities averaged 21.49 million square meters per week as of February 23, 2025, an increase of 4.35 million square meters [7][62] - The domestic sales of excavators in January 2025 were 5,405 units, a slight decrease of 16 units year-on-year, indicating stabilization in infrastructure investment [7][67] Exports - The export container freight index was 1,318.71 points as of February 21, 2025, a decrease of 68.45 points, reflecting challenges in the export sector [8][76] - The foreign trade cargo throughput at major Chinese ports was 21,956.2 million tons, an increase of 3,246 million tons from the previous week [8][77] Emerging Industries - The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index averaged 5,251.19 points as of February 21, 2025, an increase of 137.04 points, indicating rising sentiment in the semiconductor sector [9][79] - The sales of new energy vehicles in China reached 943,703 units in January 2025, an increase of 214,386 units year-on-year, reflecting growth in the new energy sector [9][88]