Economic Outlook - Germany's economy is predicted to grow only 0.2% in 2025, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from previous forecasts, and 1.3% in 2026, down by 0.2 percentage points [3] - Unemployment is expected to rise by 155,000, leading to an unemployment rate of 6.3%, with a return to below 6% not anticipated until 2027 [3] Trade and Tariff Impact - Despite a tariff agreement between the EU and the US, tariffs imposed by former President Trump remain largely unchanged, with most goods facing a 15% tariff, putting pressure on German exports to the US, which is still Germany's most important export market [4] Government Stimulus Measures - The effectiveness of Germany's government stimulus plan is expected to be lower than anticipated, with an economic boost of €38 billion projected for 2025, nearly €20 billion less than previous estimates, and only €9 billion for the current year [5] - Future growth may be supported by defense and infrastructure investments [5] Inflation and Policy Challenges - Inflation in Germany is forecasted to rise to 2.6% in 2026, up from 2.2% in 2024, indicating ongoing economic challenges [6] - The ability of Germany to overcome prolonged economic weakness is heavily dependent on government economic policies, with concerns about potential long-term economic stagnation and industrial decline if policy inertia continues [6]

Group 1 - The international gold price has recently surged, reaching a historical high of $3616.9 per ounce [1] - Domestic gold jewelry brands have reported an increase in the price of pure gold jewelry, with brands like Chow Tai Fook and Luk Fook Jewelry pricing at 1053 yuan per gram [2] Group 2 - Gold is regaining favor among investors as a diversification option, especially when bonds fail to mitigate risks, maintaining its status as a 'safe-haven asset' against inflation and loose economic policies [3] - Despite inflation hovering around 3%, the potential for the Federal Reserve to resume interest rate cuts, along with tariff impacts and reduced labor supply, may lead to economic growth slowdown, benefiting gold [3] - The weakening of the US dollar, alongside concerns over expanding fiscal deficits, enhances gold's long-term investment appeal [3] - Structural narratives for investing in gold remain strong, with foreign exchange reserve management institutions continuing to buy gold and global gold ETF holdings on the rise [4]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. GDP data for the first quarter is surprisingly poor, indicating potential economic stagnation similar to the 1970s, with persistent inflation [1] Group 1: Economic Indicators - The GDP report reflects a market downturn, aligning with expectations of weak economic growth and high inflation [1] - There is a correlation between rising bond yields and declining stock returns, suggesting a challenging economic environment [1] Group 2: Data Noise - The GDP report contains noise due to inventory accumulation activities and the impact of gold shipment volumes on international trade data [1]

Core Viewpoint - The market is currently focused on the risk of "foreign investors potentially reducing their allocation to U.S. assets," but does not assign a high probability to the scenario of "economic growth weakening" [1] Group 1: Economic Outlook - Given the potential for a long-term slowdown in the U.S. economy, current levels of U.S. bonds are considered to have investment value [1] Group 2: Market Sentiment - Pimco's assessment indicates that some investors may begin to believe that the worst phase of the recent market downturn has passed [1]