This week, multiple news items on the raw material front successively boosted market sentiment, with finished steel prices rebounding from lows in phases and generally showing a bottoming-out trend. At the start of the week, the weak fundamentals of finished steel were hard to change, and ferrous metals prices had overshot to the bottom. Subsequently, however, coal mines in Shanxi were affected by rainfall, and circuit failures led to production suspensions at some mines, sentimentally driving ferrous metals prices to bottom out. Mid-week, there were rumors of a 48-hour strike at BHP, with limited short-term tangible impact, but sentiment...

This week, precious metals first declined then rose. ADP employment data significantly missed expectations, causing rate hike expectations to pull back rapidly, and silver prices rebounded strongly to hit a new high in nearly two months. In the short term, focus on the revision of rate hike expectations by the non-farm payrolls data. In the medium and long term, US debt risks and the turning of the interest rate cycle will continue to support precious metals.

SMM, August 3: The SHFE aluminum 2608 contract opened at 23,400 yuan/mt today, reached a high of 23,665 yuan/mt, hit a low of 23,400 yuan/mt, and closed at 23,625 yuan/mt, down 10 yuan/mt or 0.04% from the previous trading day. Trading volume was 12,000 lots, open interest was 40,300 lots, and daily position change was -5,189 lots. The price stood above the MA5 (23505), MA10 (23357.50), MA20 (23228.50), and MA40 (23362.25), but still below the MA60 (23758.92). The short-term repairing pattern continued, but resistance remained overhead. In the MACD indicator, the DIFF (23.83) was above the DEA (-72.27), and the histogram recorded 192.20, with bullish momentum still releasing. Trading volume was low, and the daily position change of -5,189 lots indicated a significant capital outflow. The session’s low opening and subsequent recovery largely reflected position-squaring repair, and sustained upward momentum still needs to be observed. SMM comment: The indirect technical talks between the US and Iran made progress, with both sides discussing fund returns and strait security, and nuclear issue consultations are about to start. The geopolitical risk premium continued to shrink, disputes over the management of the Strait of Hormuz persisted, and the resumption of navigation through the strait remained uncertain. The US Fed’s hawkish pivot boosted the US dollar index, weighing on non-ferrous metals prices. Under macro headwinds, aluminum prices in China and overseas fell. In the short term, bearish factors dominate, and aluminum prices are expected to continue in the doldrums. The alumina 2609 contract opened at 2,627 yuan/mt today, reached a high of 2,648 yuan/mt, hit a low of 2,621 yuan/mt, and closed at 2,633 yuan/mt, down 2 yuan/mt or 0.08% from the previous trading day. Trading volume was 149,700 lots, open interest was 227,200 lots, and daily position change was -15,651 lots. The price remained below the MA5 (2653.60), MA10 (2682.50), MA20 (2690.55), MA40 (2764.93), and MA60 (2773.88). The moving averages maintained a bearish alignment, and the weak pattern of futures continued. In the MACD indicator, the DIFF (-35.37) was below the DEA (-31.96), and the histogram recorded -6.81, indicating persistent bearish momentum. Trading volume remained at a certain level, but the daily position change of -15,651 lots showed a significant capital outflow. Near-term futures are likely to continue consolidating on a weak note at low levels. SMM comment: According to SMM data, as of last Thursday, China’s total alumina inventory edged down WoW. Looking at the inventory structure, the raw material inventory at aluminum smelters continued to destock slightly, but due to recent large price fluctuations and market division over the outlook, restocking willingness was weak, with end-users mainly taking a wait-and-see approach. In-factory alumina inventory decreased, mainly due to phased maintenance at some northern enterprises, where production constraints led to prioritized consumption of in-factory inventory. This effect is expected to gradually fade after the maintenance ends next week. Port inventory continued building, with overseas port arrivals staying high, and imported resources supplemented spot supply, adding to market pressure. Overall, the oversupply pattern remained unchanged. Before Guinea’s bauxite quota policy is implemented, the market lacks a clear bullish driver. Next week’s inventory is expected to shift from weak destocking to a slight inventory buildup, supply and demand will remain loose, and alumina prices will continue to consolidate on a weak note. [The information provided is for reference only. This article does not constitute direct investment research advice. Clients should make decisions cautiously and not use this as a substitute for independent judgment. Any decision made by clients is not associated with SMM]

During yesterday's night session, NYMEX platinum and palladium retreated after a rapid rise. The US Fed kept interest rates unchanged at 3.50-3.75%, marking the fifth consecutive meeting of holding steady, with a vote of 9 to 3. Three regional Fed presidents voted for a 25-basis-point rate hike, the first time since 2016 that there were three dissenting votes in the same direction. The precious metals sector rose in response. However, at the subsequent press conference, Warsh reiterated at the beginning that the Fed is firmly committed to achieving its 2% YoY inflation target, and the Committee will unwaveringly achieve price stability. His firm anti-inflation stance then put pressure on precious metals prices.

Ferrous metals showed slight divergence this week, with coking coal outperforming while iron ore, coke, and coil and rebar were generally weaker, and iron ore led the decline. During the week, news of the U.S.-Iran conflict fluctuated, but the market...

Platinum prices consolidated on a subdued note today. Last week, US CPI data recorded a MoM decline, but Fed Chairman Warsh revealed a tough stance of zero tolerance towards high inflation during his congressional testimony. The hawkish remarks significantly scaled back the market’s dovish expectations, posing a key headwind to the rise in precious metals. Meanwhile, the renewed escalation of geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran pushed up oil prices, which further slowed the pace of the expected policy pivot retreat, continuing to drag on precious metals prices. In the morning session, the most-traded GFEX platinum contract PT2608 settled at 395.5 yuan/g, down 0.33%. The inverted price spread between the best offer price for SGE platinum 9995 and GFEX PT2608 was maintained at around 5 yuan/g. In the spot market, mainstream quotations for platinum were from parity to a premium of 1 yuan/g against the PT2608 contract, with relatively small changes in premiums/discounts from the previous trading day, or offered at a discount of around 3 yuan/g against the GFEX October contract. The price spread between the GFEX platinum October and August contracts narrowed today, and downstream buyers made small-volume purchases based on orders. Overall, trading in the spot platinum market was subdued today.