Market Performance - On September 18, both the stock and bond markets experienced a decline, with the Shanghai Composite Index closing at 3831.66, down 1.15% [1][2] - The trading volume in the stock market reached 3.17 trillion yuan, an increase of 763.7 billion yuan compared to the previous day, indicating a significant sell-off [2] Stock Market Analysis - The stock market showed a high open but closed lower, with the Shanghai Composite Index briefly reaching 3899.96 points before facing strong selling pressure [2] - The decline in major indices, except for the Sci-Tech Innovation Board, suggests a healthy adjustment rather than a shift to pessimism, as implied by the drop in implied volatility [2] - The technology sector attempted a rebound, with the Sci-Tech 50 index rising by 0.72%, indicating a preference for technology stocks amidst the broader market decline [3] Bond Market Insights - The bond market saw a rise in yields, particularly in the long-end, with the 10-year and 30-year government bonds reaching 1.78% and 2.07%, respectively [5][6] - The afternoon sell-off in equities provided a reason for the bond market to restart buying, although investor caution remained evident in pricing [6] Commodity Market Overview - The commodity market experienced a general downturn, with significant declines in glass, coking coal, and pure alkali, which fell by 2.2%, 2.1%, and 2.0%, respectively [7] - Precious metals also faced selling pressure, with domestic silver and gold dropping by 1.94% and 1.78% [7][8] - The coking coal market showed signs of stabilization due to supply and demand dynamics, with production recovering and inventory levels decreasing [8] Livestock Sector Developments - The livestock sector is undergoing stricter production controls, with recent policies aimed at reducing the breeding sow population, which may improve the long-term supply dynamics [9] - Despite the potential for improved supply conditions, short-term pressures remain due to concentrated market releases [9] Investment Sentiment - The overall market sentiment has shifted towards risk aversion following the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut, leading to a phase of profit-taking in various sectors [9] - The focus is expected to shift from policy expectations to real-world validations, with industry logic likely to dominate future market movements [9]

Group 1: Implied Volatility Insights - Implied volatility serves as a "valuation" of future market fluctuations, driven primarily by speculative demand in the options market[2] - Historical data indicates that short-term funds often misestimate future volatility, leading to potential market corrections after significant price movements[2] - The A-share market's implied volatility does not follow a simple linear relationship with market trends, as both sharp increases and decreases in volatility can occur simultaneously with market movements[10] Group 2: Market Timing Strategies - Two types of buying opportunities are identified: 1) when implied volatility rises sharply while the market declines, and 2) when both implied volatility and market levels are low, indicating potential for unexpected rebounds[3] - Selling strategies include: 1) selling when implied volatility rises sharply in a strong market to avoid subsequent declines, and 2) selling when implied volatility is low while the market is at a high, to mitigate risks from unexpected downturns[3] - A practical timing strategy is proposed, utilizing indicators such as the RSI and changes in implied volatility to identify market entry and exit points[48] Group 3: Recent Market Trends - From late June to early August 2025, the market experienced a "slow bull" trend, supported by low implied volatility and a series of favorable policies[4] - The implied volatility index for the CSI 300 remained low during this period, suggesting that both positive and negative market events could lead to significant price movements[4] - Despite the upward trend, short-term speculative enthusiasm did not escalate rapidly, contributing to the stability of the "slow bull" market[4]