1. Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant information provided 2. Core View of the Report - Short - term monetary policy expectations suppress precious metals, but they remain in a high - level oscillation pattern supported by global central bank gold purchases, COMEX gold inventory reduction, and geopolitical risks. The market focus has shifted to the upcoming US January CPI data, and the inflation path will be the key to pricing Fed policies and precious metal trends in the next stage. Due to the decline of US technology stocks and profit - taking by some investors, precious metal prices dropped. The strategy is to remain on the sidelines for now, with the reference operating range for the main contract of Shanghai gold being 950 - 1100 yuan/gram and that for the main contract of Shanghai silver being 18500 - 21000 yuan/kilogram [3][4] 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Market Quotes - Shanghai gold dropped 2.42% to 1100.96 yuan/gram, and Shanghai silver dropped 1.88% to 19188.00 yuan/kilogram. COMEX gold dropped 3.08% to 4941.40 dollars/ounce, and COMEX silver dropped 10.62% to 75.25 dollars/ounce. The US 10 - year Treasury yield was 4.09%, and the US dollar index was 96.91 [2] - The Thursday plunge of precious metals might be due to the decline of US technology stocks, forcing some investors to close positions to replenish liquidity, combined with CTA trading strategies and profit - taking by investors. The initial jobless claims in the US for the week ending February 7 were 227,000, higher than the expected 222,000. The continuing jobless claims for the week ending January 31 were 1.862 million, slightly higher than the expected 1.85 million. The annualized total number of existing home sales in the US in January was 3.91 million, a month - on - month decrease of 8.4%, which might ease the hawkish market expectations brought by previous non - farm employment data [2] 3.2 Strategy Views - Due to the decline of US technology stocks forcing investors to close positions for replenishment and profit - taking by some investors, precious metal prices dropped. But supported by global central bank gold purchases and geopolitical risks, they are still in a high - level oscillation. The key market game has shifted to Friday's CPI data. Temporarily stay on the sidelines, with the reference operating range for the main contract of Shanghai gold being 950 - 1100 yuan/gram and that for the main contract of Shanghai silver being 18500 - 21000 yuan/kilogram [4] 3.3 Key Data Summary - **Gold**: COMEX gold's closing price (active contract) was 5107.80 dollars/ounce, up 1.19%; trading volume was 125,400 lots, up 23.12%; open interest was 409,700 lots, down 16.13%; inventory was 1080 tons, down 1.40%. LBMA gold's closing price was 5077.85 dollars/ounce, up 0.92%. SHFE gold's closing price (active contract) was 1126.12 yuan/gram, down 0.38%; trading volume was 324,400 lots, up 14.97%; open interest was 302,700 lots, down 0.63%; inventory was 105.07 tons, unchanged; precipitated funds were 5.4533 billion yuan, down 1.01%. AuT + D's closing price was 1122.92 yuan/gram, down 0.14%; trading volume was 24.71 tons, down 14.71%; open interest was 255.19 tons, down 3.12% [7] - **Silver**: COMEX silver's closing price (active contract) was 84.09 dollars/ounce, up 4.35%; open interest was 143,200 lots, down 8.59%; inventory was 11868 tons, down 1.22%. LBMA silver's closing price was 86.10 dollars/ounce, up 4.64%. SHFE silver's closing price (active contract) was 20,626.00 yuan/kilogram, down 1.52%; trading volume was 1,109,100 lots, up 2.31%; open interest was 540,200 lots, down 2.84%; inventory was 349.63 tons, up 2.20%; precipitated funds were 3.0082 billion yuan, down 4.32%. AgT + D's closing price was 19,670.00 yuan/kilogram, down 1.15%; trading volume was 220.35 tons, down 5.23%; open interest was 3143.492 tons, down 1.42% [7] 3.4 ETF Holdings - **Gold**: iShare US's holding was 499.84 tons, up 0.08%; GBS UK's holding was 30.80 tons, down 0.22%; PHAU UK's holding was 54.48 tons, down 0.21%; GOLD UK's holding was 29.92 tons, up 0.04%; SGBS Switzerland's holding was 36.12 tons, unchanged [65] - **Silver**: SLV US's trading volume was 96.4592 million shares, up 29.09%; ETPMAG Australia's holding was 489.86 tons, down 1.18%; PSLV Canada's holding was 6747.30 tons, unchanged; CEF Canada's holding was 1610.16 tons, unchanged [65]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. financial markets are exhibiting a cautious trend as year-end holidays approach, with mixed performances among major indices and limited policy guidance from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes [1][2] Group 1: Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by approximately 100 points, maintaining around 48,400 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices remained largely flat, indicating significant sector rotation [1] - The energy sector saw a slight increase, but this was not enough to offset the downward pressure from the healthcare and financial sectors [1] Group 2: Federal Reserve Insights - The meeting minutes revealed that a majority of FOMC members believe that if inflation declines as expected, a moderate rate cut in the future may be appropriate, although no specific timeline was provided [1] - There are internal disagreements among officials, with some favoring a pause after a potential December rate cut to assess economic data, while others caution against rapid rate cuts due to persistent high inflation risks [1] - The minutes indicated that reserve balances have fallen to "adequate" levels, suggesting that initiating Treasury purchases could aid in interest rate management, but this is considered a technical operation rather than a policy shift [1] Group 3: Market Reactions - Following the release of the minutes, the U.S. dollar index rose slightly to about 98.20, reflecting a daily increase of approximately 0.2%, yet it remains at recent low levels [2] - The market's reaction to the minutes was measured, attributed to the low liquidity as the year-end approaches, with most markets expected to close for the holidays [2] - Overall, the minutes reinforced the market's perception of a marginally dovish stance from the Federal Reserve, although the inflation trajectory remains unclear, limiting policy flexibility [2]

Group 1 - Gold prices experienced a slight increase, driven by the rise in the U.S. unemployment rate in November, which strengthened expectations for future interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and led to a weaker dollar, enhancing gold's appeal [1][5] - As of the market close, spot gold rose by 0.2% to $4310.21 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures saw a minor decline of 0.1% [1][5] - The U.S. dollar index fell to a two-month low, and the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds also decreased slightly, providing support for gold prices [1][5] Group 2 - The November non-farm payrolls showed a rebound, but the unemployment rate increased from 4.4% in September to 4.6%, exceeding economists' expectations [1][5] - The interest rate futures market anticipates that the Federal Reserve will cut rates by approximately 59 basis points by 2026 [1][5] - Analysts predict that if gold closes above $4400 per ounce in 2025, it could potentially reach a range of $4859 to $5590 in 2026 [1][5] Group 3 - The current market sentiment maintains a bullish outlook on gold, emphasizing the need to assess both the upward potential and the adjustment space within the current cycle [3][7] - The recent high point for gold is noted at 4350, with a potential breakout target of 4385 if this level is surpassed [3][7] - Technical analysis indicates that while the daily chart remains strong, the four-hour chart shows a consolidation phase, suggesting a trading range between 4350 and 4250 [3][7]

Core Viewpoint - The debate regarding whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in September is intensifying, with differing perspectives on the conditions for such a decision [1] Group 1: Conditions for Rate Cuts - The conditions for the Federal Reserve to take action are maturing, as the market misunderstands that the Fed must wait for clear inflation data before cutting rates. Instead, as long as the impact of tariffs on inflation is predictable, the Fed can act sooner [2][4] - Current U.S. real interest rates at 1.63% are significantly above the natural rate of about 1%, indicating a restrictive monetary policy. Economic growth and the job market are showing signs of moderate weakening, with average GDP growth over the past two quarters at approximately 1.5% when excluding tariff-related fluctuations [2][4] Group 2: Tariff Impact on Inflation - The impact of tariffs on inflation is becoming clearer, with recent agreements with multiple trade partners leading to a likely effective tax rate of 15%-16% post-August 1. This suggests a predictable transmission path for tariffs to inflation [4] - The anticipated one-time impact of tariffs is expected to manifest primarily in Q3 and Q4, with year-end CPI projected at 3.3% and core CPI at 3.4% [4] Group 3: Fed's Independence and Decision-Making - The Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut rates due to political pressure from President Trump, as it maintains a commitment to its independence and policy objectives of full employment and stable inflation [7][8] - Recent statements from Fed Chair Powell and other officials indicate a preference for a tightening stance, citing unresolved inflation risks from tariffs and a stable labor market as reasons not to lower rates [7][8]

Market Overview - The three major U.S. stock indices experienced a collective decline, indicating a subtle shift in market sentiment as investors express concerns over earnings quality and policy outlook [1][3] - The earnings season, which was expected to stabilize the market, has instead triggered increased volatility [1] Company Performance - Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.46%, S&P 500 decreased by 0.30%, and Nasdaq dropped by 0.38% [3] - UnitedHealth Group's earnings forecast fell short of market expectations, leading to a 7.5% drop in its stock price, significantly impacting the Dow [3] - Boeing reported a narrower loss but failed to gain investor confidence, resulting in a 4.4% decline [3] - Merck's stock fell by 1.7% due to the extended pause on HPV vaccine exports to China [3] - UPS shares plummeted by 10.6% after the company refrained from providing full-year guidance, raising concerns about the impact of escalating trade tensions on its business [3] Sector Impact - The consumer goods sector was also affected, with Procter & Gamble's stock down by 0.3% as the market reacted unfavorably to its plans to raise some product prices [4] - The transportation index dropped by 2.3%, marking its largest single-day decline in two months, reflecting a rapid decline in confidence within the transportation and logistics sectors [3] Upcoming Focus - The market's attention will shift to upcoming earnings reports from major tech companies such as Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple, which have the potential to influence overall market direction [4] - Despite the potential for strong earnings from these tech giants, broader market caution may persist due to uncertainties surrounding Federal Reserve policy, trade dynamics, and global demand recovery [4] Market Sentiment - Short-term adjustments may signal a preliminary change in market direction, as investors reassess whether previous bullish trends may have masked underlying overheating concerns [4]

Group 1 - The foreign exchange market is experiencing a dichotomy, with the Australian dollar unexpectedly rising amid expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia, while the Japanese yen continues to weaken under the shadow of US-Japan trade tensions [1][3] - The Australian dollar's strength is attributed to the Reserve Bank of Australia's "dovish yet hawkish" stance, maintaining the cash rate at 3.85% and indicating that inflation risks are balanced, which led to a more than 1% increase against the US dollar [3] - In contrast, the Japanese yen is under pressure due to the announcement of a 25% tariff on Japan and South Korea by President Trump, which has negatively impacted market expectations for Japanese exports and diminished the yen's traditional safe-haven appeal [3][4] Group 2 - The euro has reached a one-year high against the yen, reflecting global investors' preference for currencies from regions with clear economic policies and growth momentum, shifting away from traditional safe havens like the yen [4] - Trump's fluctuating policy stance complicates market expectations, with potential for renewed yen safe-haven attributes if trade tensions escalate or if the Federal Reserve's monetary policy is more dovish than anticipated [4] - The rebound of the Australian dollar and the decline of the yen are seen as structural changes in the currency market, influenced by complex policy signals and global macroeconomic expectations, indicating a prevailing trend of "stronger currencies remaining strong, while weaker currencies struggle" [4]

Core Viewpoint - The Polish central bank committee member Kotecki predicts that the benchmark interest rate may decrease to 4.75% by the end of 2025, with a potential drop to 4.5% if the inflation forecast in November indicates a lower trajectory [1] Summary by Relevant Categories - **Interest Rate Forecast** - The benchmark interest rate is expected to decline to 4.75% by the end of 2025 [1] - If the November inflation forecast shows a lower path, the rate could further decrease to 4.5% [1]