Core Insights - The global asset bull market narrative since 2025 has reached a critical juncture in October [1] - Despite significant year-to-date gains in silver (64.73%) and gold (52.53%), October revealed market fragility with declines in major indices [2] - The divergence in performance between US and Asian markets highlights a stark contrast, with US indices reaching new highs while Asian markets, particularly Hong Kong and Chinese stocks, faced significant pullbacks [3][4] Market Performance - US stock markets showed strong performance in October, with the Nasdaq index rising 4.70% to close at 23,724.96 points, and the S&P 500 index increasing by 2.27% to 6,840.20 points [3][6] - In contrast, the Hang Seng Index fell by 3.53% to 25,906.65 points, and the Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index dropped by 4.19% [3][6] - The A-share market also exhibited mixed results, with the Shanghai Composite Index up 1.85% and the Shenzhen Component Index down 1.10% [3][6] Precious Metals - The precious metals market experienced volatility, with silver peaking at $54.142 per ounce before retreating to $48.85, while gold reached $4,355.685 before falling to $4,018.52 [7][8] - Year-to-date performance for gold and silver remains strong, with gold up 52.53% and silver up 68.44% [8] Energy and Currency - The US dollar index strengthened in October, rising from 97.82 to 99.73, which exerted pressure on dollar-denominated assets [9] - Oil prices faced downward pressure, with WTI crude oil falling 2.23% to $60.98 per barrel and Brent crude down 1.91% to $64.77 per barrel [9] Market Dynamics - The October pullback in Chinese stocks is attributed to multiple pressures, including increased IPO activity and ongoing US-China trade tensions, leading to reduced risk appetite [10] - The divergence in performance is also linked to the relative strength of the US economy and the liquidity environment, which continues to support US equities [11] Future Outlook - The medium-term bullish outlook for precious metals remains intact, supported by central bank gold purchases and geopolitical uncertainties [12] - The performance of US stocks is heavily reliant on large technology companies, which have shown strong earnings growth and market dominance [12] - Concerns about potential valuation bubbles in the tech sector are emerging, particularly regarding AI investments, which could impact future market stability [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - Spot gold prices have continued to rise, reaching a record high of $4,073.89 per ounce [1] Group 1 - The increase in spot gold prices indicates strong demand and potential shifts in investor sentiment towards safe-haven assets [1]

Core Viewpoint - The gold and silver markets are experiencing significant upward momentum driven by geopolitical and economic risks, alongside expectations of interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - On October 9, the Shanghai gold futures closed at 914.32 yuan per gram, marking a daily increase of 4.82% with a trading volume of 196,141 contracts and an open interest of 251,137 contracts [1]. - The spot gold price in Shanghai was quoted at 910.89 yuan per gram, reflecting a discount of 3.43 yuan per gram compared to the futures price [1]. Group 2: Fundamental Factors - COMEX gold prices have reached new highs, with spot gold surpassing $4,000 per ounce for the first time, driven by rising geopolitical and economic risks [1]. - The market anticipates a 98% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in October, with a 90% chance of another cut in December [2]. - Central banks globally have been major buyers of gold, with China's central bank increasing its reserves for 11 consecutive months, reaching 74.06 million ounces by September 2025 [2]. Group 3: Institutional Insights - According to Galaxy Futures, while the upward trend in precious metals is expected to continue, there is increasing pressure from profit-taking, and a potential correction may occur once the U.S. government shutdown ends [3]. - The demand for gold jewelry is currently facing significant challenges, and the pace of central bank purchases may slow down, which together account for approximately 70% of global gold demand [3].

Market Overview - The US stock market closed lower on Thursday, with investors adjusting positions amid a lack of new economic data and market catalysts [2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its largest single-day drop in a month, falling by 243.36 points to 46358.42 points, a decline of 0.52% [2] - The S&P 500 index decreased by 18.61 points to 6735.11 points, down 0.28%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell by 18.75 points to 23024.63 points, a drop of 0.08% [2] Sector Performance - Among the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, the materials sector had the largest decline, while the consumer staples sector was the only one to rise [2] - The housing and residential construction sectors both dropped over 2% due to pressure on profit margins and demand outlook [2] - Large tech stocks showed mixed performance, with Apple down 1.56%, Google A down 1.26%, and Microsoft and Tesla down by up to 0.7%, while Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta saw gains between 1.12% and 2.18% [2] Chinese Stocks - Chinese stocks faced overall pressure, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index falling by 2.01% [2] - Xpeng Motors and Pony.ai dropped over 5%, while NIO, Baidu, Li Auto, and Alibaba saw declines exceeding 4% [2] - JinkoSolar rose by 2.3%, and Bilibili increased by 2.9% [2] Earnings Season - The earnings season is approaching, with major banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo set to report their results [4] - Analysts expect S&P 500 companies to report a year-over-year earnings growth of 8.8% for Q3, down from 13.8% in the previous quarter [4] - Delta Air Lines reported stronger-than-expected Q3 results and raised its guidance for the current quarter, leading to a 4.3% increase in its stock price [4] Economic Indicators - The US 10-year Treasury yield rose by 1.7 basis points to 4.15%, while the 2-year Treasury yield increased by 1.3 basis points to 3.60% [5] - International oil prices fell, with WTI crude oil futures down 1.66% to $61.51 per barrel and Brent crude down 1.55% to $65.22 per barrel [5] - Gold prices retreated from recent highs, with spot gold down 1.62% to $3976.76 per ounce and COMEX gold futures down 1.96% to $3990.9 per ounce [5]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices are experiencing a slight increase in Asian trading, driven by expectations of interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, which are likely to enhance the appeal of this non-yielding precious metal [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Spot gold rose by 0.1%, reaching $3,645.84 per ounce [1] - The increase in gold prices is supported by last week's weak employment data and the benchmark revision data released on Tuesday, indicating that U.S. job growth is significantly slower than previously estimated [1] Group 2: Economic Indicators - A series of disappointing labor market indicators have strengthened market bets on multiple interest rate cuts before the end of the year [1] - This shift in expectations has increased the attractiveness of non-yielding assets like gold [1]

Core Viewpoint - The New York gold futures have declined to $3,400 per ounce, with a daily drop of 0.25%. Meanwhile, the spot gold price has fallen below $3,350, experiencing a daily decrease of 0.18% [1] Group 1 - New York gold futures reached a low of $3,400 per ounce [1] - Spot gold price dropped below $3,350 [1] - Daily decline rates for gold futures and spot prices are 0.25% and 0.18% respectively [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint indicates that spot gold prices are experiencing slight declines due to negative pressure from the EMA50 moving average, particularly after breaking below a short-term bullish trendline, which has intensified selling pressure [1] - The RSI indicator on the 4-hour chart has reached a significantly oversold level, suggesting a potential for positive momentum that could pave the way for a short-term rebound in gold prices [1]

Core Viewpoints - The report suggests that in the second half of the year, credit bond yields may follow government bond yields downward, but the supply of credit bonds may increase while demand weakens, leading to a risk of widening credit spreads [3][6][7]. Market Overview Domestic Market - The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3461, with a daily increase of 0.18% and a weekly increase of 1.91% [1]. - The Shenzhen Component Index closed at 10535, with a daily increase of 1.17% and a weekly increase of 3.73% [1]. - The CSI 300 Index closed at 3968, with a daily increase of 0.62% and a weekly increase of 1.95% [1]. - The ChiNext Index closed at 2164, with a daily increase of 1.90% and a weekly increase of 5.69% [1]. International Market - The Hang Seng Index closed at 24070, with a daily decrease of 0.63% and a weekly increase of 3.20% [4]. - The Dow Jones Index closed at 44484, with a daily decrease of 0.02% and a weekly increase of 3.82% [4]. - The S&P 500 Index closed at 6227, with a daily increase of 0.47% and a weekly increase of 3.44% [4]. Credit Bond Strategy - The report emphasizes that the overall strategy for credit bonds in the second half of the year should focus on extending duration, as it may still be a better strategy. Additionally, opportunities in lower-rated bonds should be monitored [6][7]. - Among the three major sectors, it is recommended to pay more attention to municipal investment bonds, as their supply is expected to weaken, followed by financial bonds [6][7]. Sector Strategies 1. **Municipal Investment Bonds**: Focus on opportunities for spread compression in high-quality municipal bonds from good regions, as policies may alleviate credit risks [7]. 2. **Industrial Bonds**: Monitor opportunities for spread recovery in state-owned enterprise bonds after risk events have eased, as well as coupon opportunities from state-owned real estate and construction bonds [7]. 3. **Financial Bonds**: Pay attention to overall opportunities arising from reduced supply pressure on perpetual bonds and structural opportunities from the merger of rural commercial banks [7]. 4. **Technology Innovation Bonds**: Opportunities for spread compression are worth noting, as their rates are slightly higher than green bonds [7].

Market Overview - A-shares experienced slight fluctuations, with the Shanghai Composite Index up 0.01% and the Shenzhen Component down 0.11%[17] - Hong Kong stocks were affected by global market sentiment, with the Hang Seng Index down 1.36% and the Hang Seng Tech Index down 2.2%[11] - European markets showed weakness, with the STOXX 600 index down 0.3% and the DAX down 0.7%[9] Economic Indicators - The U.S. PPI data for May showed a month-on-month increase of 0.1%, below the expected 0.2%, indicating continued inflation cooling[30] - The U.S. 30-year Treasury auction saw a strong demand with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.43, indicating investor confidence despite geopolitical tensions[30] Geopolitical Tensions - Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear facilities heightened tensions in the Middle East, leading to a surge in oil prices by over 8% during Asian trading hours[27] - The geopolitical situation has contributed to increased demand for safe-haven assets, pushing gold prices up by over 1%[27] Sector Performance - In the U.S. market, 8 out of 11 S&P sectors rose, with utilities leading the gains at 1.26%[9] - In Hong Kong, the healthcare sector rose by 3.8%, while consumer discretionary stocks fell by 2.4%[12] Trade Policies - The U.S. announced an increase in steel tariffs on household appliances, raising the rate from 25% to 50%, impacting Chinese manufacturers significantly[15] - The U.S. continues to face trade uncertainties with China, particularly regarding tariffs and trade agreements[9]

Global Trade and Tariff Policy - The US has raised tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, causing concerns over global supply chain disruptions. The EU has threatened to implement countermeasures by July 14 if no agreement is reached, escalating trade tensions between the US and EU [3] - The Midwest aluminum premium surged by 54%, and steel futures rose over 8%, increasing cost pressures on downstream industries such as automotive and appliances [3] - Brazil and India have indicated they will take reciprocal measures or resort to the WTO if negotiations fail [3] US-China Trade Negotiations - The Trump administration has requested countries to submit their best trade proposals by June 4, or face the reinstatement of tariffs. China has responded by stating it will maintain communication based on the consensus from Geneva talks, with a potential extension of short-term tariff exemptions until the end of August [4] Federal Reserve and Interest Rate Policy - Federal Reserve officials have expressed caution regarding rapid interest rate cuts, emphasizing the need for more evidence of declining inflation. Current rates are seen as providing a solid foundation for economic conditions [5] - US factory orders fell by 3.7% month-on-month in April, marking the largest decline since January 2024, while job vacancies increased to 7.39 million, indicating a mixed picture of labor market resilience and cooling [6] - The market anticipates a 98% probability that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates in June, with the first rate cut potentially delayed until after July [7] Commodity Market - Oil prices have risen to a two-week high, with Brent crude increasing by 1.5% to $65.63 per barrel and US crude rising by 1.4% to $63.41 per barrel, influenced by ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and deadlock in the US-Iran nuclear deal [7] - Gold prices have faced downward pressure due to a strengthening dollar, with spot gold dropping nearly 1% to $3352.30 per ounce, while platinum and palladium prices rose by 0.9% and 2.1% respectively due to industrial demand [8] Stock Market Performance - US tech stocks led the market, with Nvidia rising nearly 3% to reclaim the title of the world's most valuable company, and Broadcom delivering record switch chip deliveries, contributing to the Nasdaq's first year-to-date gain [9] - In China, the Shanghai Composite Index rose by 0.43%, with the Shenzhen and ChiNext indices increasing by 0.16% and 0.48% respectively, supported by active trading in sectors such as innovative pharmaceuticals and robotics [10] Policy and Industry Highlights - A joint initiative by five departments has launched a campaign to promote the adoption of 124 models of new energy vehicles in rural areas, aiming to enhance charging infrastructure and vehicle-network interaction technology [11] - A collaboration between Yaoshi Bang and Yujian Technology is set to advance the development of pharmaceutical collaborative robots, with the medical robot market projected to exceed $373 million by 2028 [12]