Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the construction and engineering industry [11]. Core Insights - In September, central enterprise orders improved, and the decline in investment narrowed. The manufacturing PMI fell significantly in October, indicating a marginal weakening in industry prosperity, while the construction PMI slightly decreased, aligning with seasonal trends [6][20]. - Fixed asset investment in September was 4.5 trillion yuan, down 7.1% year-on-year, with a cumulative fixed asset investment of 37.2 trillion yuan for the year, a decrease of 0.5% year-on-year. Narrowly defined infrastructure investment showed a smaller decline compared to previous months [7][25]. - The physical workload showed improvement in October, with cement output declining at a slower rate, and cement dispatch volumes increased marginally [8][50]. - Project funding is being prioritized, with a funding rate of 59.7% for construction sites as of October 28, showing a slight week-on-week increase [9][57]. Summary by Sections Investment & Orders - Central enterprise orders improved in September, with most central enterprises showing positive growth in domestic orders. Notably, China Chemical and China Railway Construction saw significant growth rates of 18.11% and 9.38%, respectively [7][42][44]. - The overall order growth for major construction central enterprises in Q3 was 5.02% year-on-year, indicating a positive trend in both domestic and overseas markets [42][44]. Physical Workload - Cement production saw a year-on-year decline of 5.2% from January to September, with a more pronounced drop of 8.6% in September alone. However, cement dispatch volumes showed a week-on-week increase of 8.0% in late October [8][50]. Project Funding - The funding rate for construction projects was reported at 59.7%, with non-residential projects at 61.15% and residential projects at 52.81% as of late October. The issuance of special bonds reached 39.646 billion yuan year-to-date, with a 90% completion rate [9][59].

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" and maintained [9] Core Insights - In the first nine months of the year, narrow infrastructure investment grew by 1.1%, with a month-on-month decrease of 0.9 percentage points, while broad infrastructure investment increased by 4.5%, with a month-on-month decrease of 1.4 percentage points. In September, narrow infrastructure investment declined by 4.6%, with the decline narrowing by 1.3 percentage points month-on-month, while broad infrastructure investment fell by 4.0%, with the decline expanding by 0.8 percentage points [2][6][13] Summary by Sections Infrastructure Investment Overview - In September, narrow infrastructure investment amounted to 1.8 trillion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 4.6%, with a month-on-month increase of 1.3 percentage points. Broad infrastructure investment was 2.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 4.0%, with a month-on-month decrease of 0.8 percentage points. For the first nine months, narrow infrastructure investment totaled 13.8 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, with a month-on-month decrease of 0.9 percentage points, while broad infrastructure investment reached 18.8 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.5%, with a month-on-month decrease of 1.4 percentage points [13] Investment Breakdown - All three major categories of investment showed negative month-on-month growth in September. Power investment saw a month-on-month decline of 2.4%, marking the first negative growth since 2022. Transportation investment fell by 4.6%, with the decline narrowing by 0.8 percentage points. Railway transport investment grew by 2.3%, while road transport investment increased by 0.9%. Water conservancy investment dropped by 14.6%, with the decline narrowing by 0.1 percentage points. Public facilities management investment fell by 12.4%, with the decline expanding by 0.8 percentage points [13] Cement Usage - Cement production saw a larger decline in September, influenced by weather and funding factors, with no signs of peak construction season. From January to September, cement production decreased by 5.2% year-on-year, with the decline expanding by 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous eight months. In September alone, cement production fell by 8.6%, with the decline expanding by 2.4 percentage points month-on-month [13] Government Debt and Project Progress - The government will advance the issuance of debt quotas for 2026, focusing on the promotion of major projects and the improvement of construction activity in key regions. As of October 17, the cumulative issuance of special bonds reached 36,973 billion yuan, an increase of 730 billion yuan year-on-year, with an issuance progress of 84%, which is 8.9 percentage points slower year-on-year [13]

Core Viewpoint - The global economy is undergoing a transformation, prompting investors and policymakers to act cautiously amid uncertain policies and market volatility. Despite these challenges, major economies remain resilient, and central bank interest rate cuts are expected to create opportunities in global equities [1]. Group 1: Economic Outlook - The U.S. real GDP growth is projected to slow from nearly 3% in 2023-2024 to 1.6% in 2025, primarily due to weakening private demand and the impact of tariffs on prices and consumer confidence [2]. - Average tariffs of approximately 15% are expected to cause economic losses and a temporary rise in inflation, with the Federal Reserve anticipated to cut interest rates three times in the latter half of 2025 [2]. Group 2: Geopolitical Risks - The rising geopolitical tensions, exacerbated by U.S. tariffs and reduced commitments to European security, may lead to increased unity in Europe as countries seek new trade agreements and recognize the advantages of collective negotiation [3]. Group 3: Asset Allocation - Despite a bleak growth outlook, corporate performance is expected to remain strong, supporting a slightly aggressive asset allocation and inflation-hedging strategies. The focus will be on global equities, commodities, gold, and infrastructure investments for stable cash flows [4]. - The changing correlation between the dollar, stocks, and bonds highlights the importance of diversifying currency allocations [4]. Group 4: Bond Market Insights - Investors are likely to demand higher premiums on U.S. Treasuries due to unclear trade policies and rising public debt. The central bank's interest rate cuts will support short-term bonds, benefiting European and emerging market bonds [5]. Group 5: Stock Market Considerations - Stocks may record low single-digit returns in the latter half of the year, with industry selection becoming crucial. The attractiveness of the European market is expected to benefit small-cap stocks, with a focus on domestic-driven sectors to mitigate tariff risks [6]. Group 6: Emerging Markets Opportunities - Emerging market stocks are anticipated to gain traction in the latter half of 2025, with India and ASEAN becoming key beneficiaries of global supply chain shifts. The "Make in India" initiative is attracting multinational companies, particularly in defense and IT sectors [7]. Group 7: Alternative Investments - The challenging geopolitical environment is prompting investors to diversify into private and alternative assets, with private debt and infrastructure expected to remain attractive due to strong direct lending and fundraising [8].

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" and maintained [10] Core Viewpoints - In April, narrow infrastructure investment was 1.7 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%, with a month-on-month growth rate decrease of 0.1 percentage points. Broad infrastructure investment reached 2.2 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%, with a month-on-month growth rate decrease of 0.9 percentage points [7][11] - The report indicates that railway investment has accelerated, while water conservancy investment increased by 6.1% year-on-year, and transportation investment increased by 4.1% year-on-year. However, the month-on-month growth rates for these sectors showed a decline [11][12] - Cumulative narrow infrastructure investment from January to April was 4.9 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%, with stable month-on-month growth rates [11][12] Summary by Relevant Sections - **Narrow Infrastructure Investment**: In April, narrow infrastructure investment was 1.7 trillion yuan, with transportation, storage, and postal services accounting for 0.8 trillion yuan, and water conservancy, environment, and public facilities management also at 0.8 trillion yuan. Year-on-year increases were 4.1% and 6.1% respectively, but month-on-month growth rates decreased [7][11] - **Broad Infrastructure Investment**: Broad infrastructure investment in April was 2.2 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 9.8%. The electricity, heat, gas, and water production and supply sector saw a significant year-on-year increase of 24.5% [11][12] - **Physical Workload**: From January to April, cement production decreased by 2.8% year-on-year, while excavator sales increased by 17.6% year-on-year, indicating a potential acceleration in water conservancy projects [11][12]

Investment Strategy - The report highlights that the recent implementation of "reciprocal tariffs" by the U.S. is expected to increase global trade costs, leading to potential inflationary or recessionary pressures on the global economy [1][8] - The tariffs include a 10% minimum baseline tariff and higher tariffs on specific countries, with China facing a 34% tariff, which could exacerbate external demand challenges for China [7][8] Short-term and Mid-term Market Impact - In the short term, risk appetite is likely to be under pressure due to inflation or recession narratives, impacting asset pricing and increasing demand for safe-haven assets [3][10] - Historical data suggests that after tariff announcements, the A-share market may experience initial pressure followed by potential rebounds, depending on new catalysts [10] - Mid-term asset pricing will revert to fundamentals, with the actual impact of tariffs and retaliatory measures from other countries being crucial [10] Policy Response and Domestic Growth - The report emphasizes the need to monitor the actual impact of tariffs and potential policy responses, as external demand contraction may necessitate stronger domestic growth policies [2][9] - There is an expectation for increased domestic policy measures to stimulate growth, such as interest rate cuts and consumption incentives, especially if negotiations yield positive outcomes before the tariffs take effect [2][9] Asset Allocation Recommendations - The report suggests a defensive approach focusing on dividend-paying assets, as market risk appetite is expected to decline [4][11] - Key sectors to consider include telecommunications, transportation, utilities, and state-owned banks, which are likely to attract defensive capital [11] - Additionally, there is a recommendation to explore offensive opportunities in sectors that may benefit from tariff exemptions or domestic growth policies, such as local consumption and infrastructure investments [12]