Investment Rating - Industry rating is maintained at "Outperform the Market" [5] Core Viewpoints - Infrastructure investment in July showed a high increase in railway and water electricity fuel investment, while overall infrastructure investment is experiencing marginal slowdown, particularly in the central and western regions [1][2] - Real estate development investment from January to July decreased by 12%, with a significant drop of 17.1% in July alone, indicating a continued weakness in the real estate sector [2] - The issuance of special bonds has accelerated, with a total of 27,775.89 billion yuan issued from January to July, representing a year-on-year increase of 56.5%, which is expected to support infrastructure investment growth in the second half of the year [1] - Cement demand is anticipated to gradually recover, with a focus on investment opportunities at relatively low points in the market, despite a 4.5% year-on-year decline in cement production from January to July [3] - The flat glass market is showing signs of improvement, with a slight increase in prices and a reduction in inventory levels, suggesting a potential recovery in demand [4] Summary by Sections Infrastructure Investment - In July, infrastructure investment growth was supported by a 21.5% year-on-year increase in water electricity fuel investment, while transportation and storage investment saw a 3.9% increase [2] - The report emphasizes the importance of focusing on major engineering projects and infrastructure investments in the central and western regions [1] Real Estate Sector - The real estate sector continues to show weakness, with significant declines in sales, new construction, and completion areas from January to July [2] - The report highlights the need for monitoring policy changes that could impact the real estate market [4] Cement and Glass Markets - Cement production decreased by 4.5% year-on-year, with a notable drop in July, but there are expectations for demand recovery as the market enters a peak season [3] - The flat glass market is experiencing a slight recovery, with improved trading conditions and reduced inventory levels [4]

Core Viewpoint - The company reported a mixed performance for the first half of 2025, with a basic profit of HKD 11.32 billion, up 11% year-on-year, but a 9% decline in EBITDA, indicating increased cost pressures and external challenges [2][3]. Financial Performance - Total revenue reached HKD 240.66 billion, reflecting a 3% year-on-year increase [2]. - Retail business (primarily Watsons) grew by 8%, port business by 9%, while infrastructure and telecommunications grew by 6% and 5%, respectively [3]. - The financial and investment segment saw a 10% decline, negatively impacting overall performance [3]. - A significant one-time loss related to the UK telecommunications merger led to a substantial drop in EBITDA [3][6]. Strategic Developments - The merger with Vodafone, completed on May 31, is expected to generate significant long-term benefits, including a commitment to invest GBP 11 billion in a 5G network over the next decade [3][4]. - The merger is projected to yield GBP 700 million in annual cost and capital expenditure synergies by the fifth year post-merger [4]. Port Business Update - The company is in discussions regarding the sale of its overseas port business, which has attracted attention from multiple countries [8][9]. - The transaction involves regulatory scrutiny from China, the US, the UK, and Europe, necessitating changes in the consortium structure to facilitate approval [9][11]. - The port business generated revenue of HKD 23.60 billion, a 9% increase, driven by growth in throughput at key ports [12]. Operational Insights - The company’s throughput increased by 4% to 44 million TEUs, with local and transshipment cargo remaining stable at 65% and 35%, respectively [12]. - Despite challenges in global trade and geopolitical risks, the port business is expected to maintain profitability growth in the second half of the year [12].

Economic Performance Overview - In July, China's economic growth rate slowed due to extreme weather conditions, but it remained above the 5% target level, with a focus on utilizing existing policies while maintaining proactive measures [1][3] - The service sector outperformed the industrial sector in July, with the service production index decreasing by 0.2 percentage points to 5.8%, while industrial added value fell by 1.1 percentage points to 5.7% [1][3] Demand and Consumption - Exports in July increased by 7.2% year-on-year in USD terms, accelerating by 1.3 percentage points compared to June, driven by a "rush to re-export" effect before the expiration of "reciprocal tariffs" [1][2] - Retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.7% year-on-year in July, a decline of 1.1 percentage points from the previous month, with dining revenue rebounding slightly while commodity retail growth slowed [2] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment from January to July grew by 1.6% year-on-year, a slowdown of 1.2 percentage points compared to the first half of the year, with infrastructure investment growing by 3.2% [2] - Real estate development investment decreased by 12.0% year-on-year from January to July, with the decline expanding by 0.8 percentage points compared to the first half of the year [2] Policy and Future Outlook - The Central Political Bureau meeting emphasized the need for sustained macroeconomic policy efforts, focusing on expanding domestic demand and improving living standards [3][4] - Key initiatives include promoting service consumption, enhancing personal consumption loan policies, and stimulating private investment through infrastructure projects [3][5] - The meeting also highlighted the importance of deepening reforms and managing risks in key areas, particularly in local government debt and real estate markets [4][5]

Economic Overview - The economy in July shows signs of weak recovery, with a potential trend of high-to-low performance throughout the year, indicating increased volatility due to external uncertainties[1] - The nominal GDP is projected to reach around 140 trillion yuan, with limited elasticity in growth rates and GDP deflator index in the second half of the year[12] Industrial Growth - In July, the industrial added value increased by 5.7% year-on-year, slightly below market expectations, while month-on-month growth was 0.38%[14] - Manufacturing demand is recovering but showing signs of marginal slowdown, with the new orders index at 49.4%, indicating a decrease in manufacturing market demand[16] Consumer Spending - The retail sales of consumer goods in July grew by 3.7% year-on-year, down from 4.8% in June, with a notable decline of 1.1 percentage points[19] - Factors affecting retail sales include reduced funding for the "old-for-new" policy, which decreased from 162 billion yuan in the first half of 2025 to 138 billion yuan in the second half[21] Fixed Asset Investment - From January to July, fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) totaled 288.229 billion yuan, growing by 1.6%, which is below market expectations of 2.7%[29] - Infrastructure investment grew by 3.2%, while real estate development investment saw a significant decline of 12.0%[29] Employment Trends - The urban surveyed unemployment rate in July was 5.2%, slightly up from the previous month, reflecting seasonal pressures from the graduation season[6] - Employment policies are being implemented to mitigate youth unemployment, including support for job creation in various sectors[6] Investment Outlook - Manufacturing investment growth was 6.2% year-on-year, but July recorded a negative growth of -0.3%, the first negative reading since July 2020, primarily due to high base effects and uncertainties from trade tensions[45] - The overall investment environment remains cautious, with private investment declining by 1.5% year-on-year, particularly in the real estate sector[29]

Consumption Data - In July, the total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 3.7% year-on-year, marking a decline of 1.1 percentage points from the previous month and the lowest monthly growth rate this year[3] - Retail sales of automobiles fell by 1.5% year-on-year, a significant drop of 6.1 percentage points compared to June, closely linked to the recent downturn in the real estate market[3] - Retail sales of communication equipment rose by 14.9%, while home appliances and furniture grew by 28.7% and 20.6%, respectively, despite declines from June[3] Investment and Real Estate - Fixed asset investment saw a sharp decline of 5.3% year-on-year in July, the largest drop since April 2020[4] - Real estate development investment fell by 17.0% year-on-year, the lowest since December 2022, indicating a renewed acceleration in market adjustments[4] - The area of residential sales decreased by 7.1% year-on-year, remaining at a low level despite a slight improvement[5] Industrial Production - The industrial added value growth rate fell to 5.7% year-on-year, down 1.1 percentage points, with the mining and manufacturing sectors also experiencing declines[6] - The automotive manufacturing sector saw a significant drop of 2.9 percentage points to 8.5%, the lowest since November 2024, reflecting the combined effects of supply-side policies and demand cooling[6] Policy Implications - The simultaneous cooling of retail, investment, and real estate markets in July may signal the need for policy measures in the second half of the year[6] - The central government may need to implement larger subsidies for durable goods consumption and consider a small interest rate cut of 10 basis points to stabilize the real estate market[6]

Core Viewpoint - The economic data for July indicates a slowdown in China's economy, with both supply and demand sides experiencing challenges, leading to a mixed outlook for various sectors [1][3]. Consumption - Retail sales growth in July was 3.7%, below the market expectation of 4.8%, influenced by extreme weather and other short-term factors [4][5]. - The growth rate of commodity consumption fell to 4%, with notable resilience in demand for essential goods like grain and oil (8.6%) and home appliances (28.7%) [4][5]. - Service retail sales growth slightly decreased to 5.2%, with cultural and tourism consumption supported by government subsidies [7][8]. Fixed Asset Investment - Fixed asset investment growth was 1.6%, down 1.2 percentage points from the previous month, with infrastructure investment at 7.3% and manufacturing investment at 6.2% [9][12]. - Real estate investment continued to decline, with a year-on-year drop of 12%, and sales volume and value of commercial housing also decreased significantly [12][14]. Import and Export - July saw better-than-expected performance in imports and exports, with export growth in dollar terms rising to 7.2%, driven by strong demand from non-US regions [18][19]. - Trade surplus expanded to $98.24 billion, a year-on-year increase of 14.9% [18][19]. Supply - Industrial production showed stable growth, with a year-on-year increase of 5.7%, supported by resilient exports and government policies [21][22]. - The service sector maintained a growth rate of 6.0%, although there are concerns about the sustainability of this growth [21][22]. Inflation - Price pressures remained, with CPI inflation at 0% and PPI inflation at -3.6%, influenced by seasonal factors and international trade uncertainties [23][24]. Outlook - The economic outlook suggests rising uncertainties in external demand and persistent internal demand issues, with recent policies aimed at boosting consumption and investment expected to take effect gradually [25].

Core Viewpoint - July economic data shows signs of slowdown, with only exports accelerating while industrial, service, consumption, investment, and real estate sales all underperformed compared to previous values, indicating a divergence in internal and external demand [1][6]. Economic Data Summary - Actual GDP index estimated to be approximately 5.02% year-on-year based on industrial value added and service production index, and about 4.79% when estimated using industrial value added and retail sales [1][6]. - Exports increased by 7.2% year-on-year, surpassing the previous value of 5.9% [6]. - Industrial value added grew by 5.7%, down from 6.8% previously, with a month-on-month seasonal adjustment of 0.38% [1][7]. - Service production index rose by 5.8%, lower than the previous 6.0% [6]. - Retail sales (社零) increased by 3.7% year-on-year, down from 4.8% previously, with a month-on-month seasonal adjustment of -0.14% [2][10]. - Fixed asset investment showed a cumulative year-on-year growth of 1.6%, down from 2.8%, with a single-month year-on-year decline of -5.2% [3][13]. - Real estate sales decreased by 8.0% year-on-year, compared to a previous decline of 5.4% [4][15]. Sector-Specific Insights - In the industrial sector, coal production growth saw a significant decline, while new industry products like smartphones and robots also experienced a slowdown [7][8]. - Retail sectors such as dining and tobacco continue to show low growth, with automotive sales turning negative for the first time in five months [2][10]. - Fixed asset investment in manufacturing, infrastructure, and real estate all showed notable declines, with real estate investment down by 17.2% year-on-year [3][15]. - Real estate data indicates a continued slowdown in sales, new construction, and investment, with significant declines in various metrics [4][15][16]. Policy and Market Outlook - The overall economic indicators suggest the emergence of a "slowdown zone," which aligns with market expectations [5][18]. - Recent macroeconomic policies are focused on supporting service consumption, particularly through interest subsidies for personal and business loans [5][18]. - The continuation of "two重" policies and real estate policies is deemed crucial for stabilizing the economy [5][18].

Economic Overview - In July, China's economic data showed a slight contraction in both supply and demand, with GDP growth estimated at 4.8%, down from 5.4%[2] - Industrial value added grew by 5.7% year-on-year, a decrease from 6.8% in the previous month, influenced by extreme weather conditions[2] - The service sector maintained strong growth, with a production index increase of 5.8%[2] Consumer Trends - Retail sales of consumer goods increased by 3.7% year-on-year in July, significantly down from 6.4% and 4.8% in May and June respectively[2] - Dining revenue growth remained low at 1.1%, indicating weak consumer spending in the restaurant sector[5] - The "old-for-new" policy continued to show diminishing returns, with retail growth in related sectors declining for two consecutive months[5] Investment Insights - Fixed asset investment growth for January to July was recorded at 1.6%, with real estate investment declining by 12.0%[21] - Infrastructure investment growth was only 3.2%, significantly lower than seasonal expectations, with July's investment growth estimated at -5.07%[4] - Manufacturing investment saw a marginal decline of 1.3 percentage points to 6.2%, with equipment updates being the only positive contributor[24] Real Estate Market - New residential property sales area decreased by 4.0% year-on-year, with sales value dropping by 6.5%[39] - The average price of new homes in major cities showed a narrowing decline, while second-hand home prices continued to fall, indicating unstable demand[39] - Real estate development investment totaled 53,580 billion yuan, with a monthly estimated decline of 17%[45] Employment Situation - The urban unemployment rate rose to 5.2%, with local household unemployment increasing to 5.3%[58] - The demand for labor from external sources remained strong due to robust industrial production, but uncertainty in future employment needs led to higher local unemployment rates[64]

Economic Overview - July economic data shows signs of slowdown, with only exports accelerating while industrial, service, consumption, investment, and real estate sales all underperformed compared to previous values, indicating a divergence in internal and external demand [1][6] - The actual GDP index estimated from industrial value added and service production index year-on-year is approximately 5.02%, while the estimate based on industrial value added and retail sales is about 4.79%, both lower than the second quarter [1][6] Industrial Performance - Industrial value added year-on-year growth is 5.7%, down from 6.8% previously, with a month-on-month seasonally adjusted increase of 0.38%, only higher than April's tariff impact [7][9] - Major product output shows significant declines in coal production growth, while new industry products like smartphones and robots also saw decreased growth rates; however, integrated circuits and power generation equipment remain at high growth levels [9][10] - The industrial enterprise sales rate increased to 97.1%, the second highest this year, indicating improved supply-demand relationships despite lower industrial supply [11] Consumer Spending - Retail sales year-on-year growth is 3.7%, down from 4.8%, with a month-on-month seasonally adjusted decline of 0.14% [12][13] - Key sectors dragging down retail performance include dining and tobacco, as well as automotive sales, which turned negative for the first time in five months, likely due to price competition constraints [12][13] - Growth in household appliances and mobile phones remains high, but cumulative growth has slowed compared to the first half of the year, influenced by the gradual release of demand and lower national subsidy fund balances [12][13] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment cumulative year-on-year growth is 1.6%, down from 2.8%, with a month-on-month decline of 5.2% [13][14] - Manufacturing, infrastructure, and real estate investments all showed significant month-on-month declines, with manufacturing attributed to high equipment renewal funding released in the first half of the year [13][14] - Infrastructure investment's unexpected decline may be due to weather disturbances and the timing of new project approvals and financial tools, with local investment showing reduced activity [13][14] Real Estate Sector - The real estate sector continues to slow, with declines in sales, new starts, construction, investment, and funding availability [16][17] - The average price of new and second-hand homes in 70 cities showed slight month-on-month declines of 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively, indicating limited changes from trend values [16][17] - Recent policy adjustments in Beijing aim to stabilize the real estate market, suggesting that further policy support may be necessary to prevent continued declines [16][17] Overall Economic Sentiment - July's soft data, including PMI and BCI, along with credit and economic data, indicate a consistent trend of slowdown, aligning with the previously mentioned "deceleration zone" [5][18] - Ongoing macroeconomic policies are emerging, particularly focused on supporting service consumption, which is expected to gradually bolster consumer spending [5][18] - Local investment and real estate are identified as key sources of the overall data slowdown, with effective investment being a crucial part of terminal demand [5][18]

Economic Growth - In July, the industrial added value increased by 5.7% year-on-year, down from 6.8% in June, with a cumulative growth of 6.3% from January to July[1] - The total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.7% year-on-year in July, a decrease from 4.8% in June, with a cumulative growth of 4.8% from January to July[1] - Fixed asset investment increased by 1.6% year-on-year from January to July, down from 2.8% in the previous period, with an annual growth target of 3.2%[1] Industrial Production - The industrial added value growth rate slowed by 1.1 percentage points in July, primarily due to weak domestic demand and external pressures[3] - Mining industry added value grew by 5.0%, down 1.1 percentage points, while manufacturing added value increased by 6.2%, down 1.2 percentage points[4] - Export delivery value only grew by 0.8% in July, a significant drop of 3.2 percentage points from the previous month[4] Consumer Spending - Retail sales growth slowed to 3.7% in July, primarily due to the suspension of the old-for-new consumption policy in some regions[6] - The retail sales of furniture, home appliances, and cultural office supplies increased by 20.6%, 28.7%, and 13.8% respectively, but growth rates decreased compared to June[6] - Cumulative retail sales growth from January to July was 4.8%, an increase of 1.3 percentage points compared to the same period last year[7] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment growth from January to July was 1.6%, down 1.2 percentage points, with declines in infrastructure, manufacturing, and real estate investments[8] - Manufacturing investment growth was 6.2%, down 1.3 percentage points, influenced by external environment fluctuations and the implementation of anti-"involution" policies[8] - Real estate investment saw a cumulative decline of 12.0% from January to July, with a worsening drop of 0.8 percentage points compared to the previous period[10] Future Outlook - Economic growth momentum is expected to remain weak in August, with potential policy measures anticipated in the fourth quarter to stabilize the economy[12] - The macroeconomic policy may include increased fiscal support, interest rate cuts, and stronger measures to stabilize the real estate market[12] - The overall economic growth target for the year is around 5.0%, with expectations of a decline in industrial production growth due to weakening export momentum[12]