The steel mill is using Microsoft Azure as its computing platform for IT systems, consolidate data and AI application across global business. The focus is to be efficient, fast, smart, and front leader of digital transformation in global industry, said CIO of ArcelorMIttal. Beside Ms. Azure, ArcelorMIttal will use Ms. Fabric, Purview, and Foundry for faster delivery of AI.

SMM, Aug 5: Metals market: As of the midday close, domestic base metals rose almost across the board. SHFE copper rose 0.79%, SHFE aluminum rose 0.15%. SHFE lead rose 2.61%. SHFE zinc rose 1.38%. SHFE tin rose 0.5%. SHFE nickel fell 0.78%. In addition, foundry aluminum most-traded futures were flat at 23,365 yuan/mt, alumina most-traded contract rose 0.99%, lithium carbonate most-traded contract rose 1.45%, silicon metal most-traded contract rose 0.72%, and polysilicon most-traded futures rose 1.83%. Ferrous metals mostly rose. Iron ore rose 0.93%, rebar rose 0.34%, hot-rolled coil rose 0.5%. Stainless steel fell 2.09%. Coking coal and coke: coking coal most-traded contract rose 3.27%, and coke most-traded contract rose 2.13%. In overseas base metals, as of 11:45, LME metals broadly rose. LME copper was flat at $14,043/mt, LME aluminum rose 0.22%, LME lead rose 0.71%, LME zinc rose 0.59%, LME tin rose 0.13%, and LME nickel fell 0.2%. Precious metals: as of 11:45, COMEX gold rose 0.8% and COMEX silver rose 1.33%. Domestic precious metals: SHFE gold rose 1.92%, and SHFE silver most-traded contract rose 5.35%. In addition, as of the midday close, platinum most-traded futures rose 7.04%, and palladium most-traded futures rose 6.01%. As of the midday close, the most-traded European container shipping freight index futures contract fell 8.96% to 1,635 points. As of 11:45 Aug 5, selected futures midday quotes: Spot and Fundamentals Copper: Spot prices of #1 copper cathode in Guangdong against the front-month contract: high-quality copper quoted at 110 yuan/mt, up 10 yuan/mt from the previous trading day; standard-quality copper quoted at a premium of 30 yuan/mt, up 30 yuan/mt; SX-EW copper quoted at a discount of 30 yuan/mt, up 30 yuan/mt. The average price of #1 copper cathode in Guangdong was 106,990 yuan/mt, up 450 yuan/mt, and SX-EW copper averaged 106,890 yuan/mt, up 460 yuan/mt. Spot market: Guangdong inventories ended a two-day rising streak and declined again, mainly due to fewer arrivals... Macro Front China: [PBOC net drains 201.5 billion yuan from the open market today] The PBOC conducted 5 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repos, with an operation rate of 1.40%, unchanged from last. Today, 206.5 billion yuan of reverse repos mature. US Dollar: As of 11:45, the US dollar index fell 0.05% to 99.82. Oil prices fell further, with markets betting that the tight energy supply situation will ease, potentially reducing inflationary pressures, and cooling expectations for US Fed interest rate hikes. (Wall Street CN) According to the CME "FedWatch," the probability that the US Fed will keep rates unchanged in September is 41.6%, while there is a 58.4% probability of a cumulative 25bp rate hike. For October, the probability of rates staying unchanged is 30.5%, with a 53.9% probability of a cumulative 25bp hike and a 15.5% probability of a cumulative 50bp hike. (Jin10 Data APP) "Fed mouthpiece" Nick Timiraos wrote that US Treasury Secretary Bessent’s policy reaction function has shifted to a less dovish stance. His remarks this year suggest that the Fed should continue to hold rates steady. Earlier this year, Bessent cited models showing that the Fed’s policy rate could be anywhere from more than 25bp to over 100bp above the neutral rate. Today (August 4), he put forward two points. He first defended Warsh’s decision last week not to articulate any policy reaction function: "I believe every meeting should be open, and market participants should judge for themselves... I think Warsh wants to keep his options open to achieve the best outcome." Secondly, he did propose a policy reaction function that could be seen as dovish, arguing that near-term shocks should be ignored: "What exactly will be the impact of rising short-term rates? We’ll have to wait and see." He raised this question, but then responded by noting that underlying inflation is "very mild... very steady." "In core inflation, after stripping out the more volatile components influenced by energy, the rest has been very steady. I expect this to continue." (Jin10 Data APP) On the economic data front, US job openings declined somewhat in June, but hiring rebounded slightly, indicating that labour market demand remained relatively stable. eToro’s Bret Kenwell noted that this Friday’s non-farm payrolls report will be the next key period: "If the data is strong, especially amid still-elevated inflation, it will reinforce expectations for a September rate hike; but if the data is weak, combined with last week’s lower-than-expected GDP growth, it could provide more justification for the Fed to stay on hold." (Wall Street CN) Data: Today will see the release of France’s June industrial production m/m, final July services PMIs for France, Germany, the Eurozone, and the UK, Eurozone June PPI m/m, US July ADP employment change, final US July S&P Global services PMI, and US July ISM non-manufacturing PMI, among other data. Watch: 2028 FOMC voter and Kansas City Fed President Schmid will speak on the Fed, monetary policy, and the agricultural economic outlook. Crude Oil: As of 11:45, oil prices in both markets extended the declines from the previous two trading days, continuing to fall, with WTI down 1.36% and Brent down 1.06%. Qatar stated that both the US and Iran are optimistic about an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the relevant proposal has been drafted. US Treasury Secretary Bessent publicly stated that the agreement could be finalized on Tuesday or Wednesday. Affected by this, crude oil futures continued their downward trend. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supply; if reopened, it is expected to promote the normalization of global oil supply. According to Xinhua News Agency, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baqaei said on August 4 that Iran is still in negotiations with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, with "positive progress" on technical and political levels. US Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that an agreement could be reached as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday this week. According to a report by the US news website Axios on August 4, regional sources and US officials indicated that the US, Iran, and Oman are "close to reaching" an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the US side hopes to announce the deal on August 5. (From Wallstreetcn APP) Spot Market: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►

SMM August 1 News: In the metals market: On the overnight session last Friday, base metals on the domestic market showed mixed performance. SHFE copper fell 0.18%, with a monthly gain of 2.9% in July. SHFE aluminum was flat at 23,665 yuan/mt, with a monthly gain of 4.63% in July. SHFE lead fell 1.41%, SHFE zinc edged up 0.64%, and SHFE tin rose 0.72%. SHFE nickel fell 0.24%. In addition, the most-traded alumina futures edged up 0.04%, while the most-traded foundry aluminum contract edged up 0.02%. On the overnight session last Friday, ferrous metals mostly fell. Stainless steel rose 0.17%, iron ore fell 2.85%, rebar fell 0.83%, and HRC fell 0.74%. In the coking coal and coke sector, the most-traded coking coal contract fell 1.38%, and the most-traded coke contract fell 1.51%. On the overseas market during the overnight session last Friday, LME base metals generally rose. LME copper edged up 0.03%, with a monthly gain of 3.16% in July. LME aluminum rose 0.06%, with a monthly gain of 2.9% in July. LME lead fell 0.69%. LME zinc rose 0.84%. LME tin rose 0.26%. LME nickel fell 0.35%. In the precious metals market during the overnight session last Friday: COMEX gold fell 1.49%, with its weekly chart posting a second consecutive gain, up 0.68% for the week, and its July monthly chart rising 1.49%. COMEX silver fell 2.1%, with its weekly chart declining 1.92% for the week, and its monthly chart posting a second consecutive loss, down 3.58% in July. In the overnight session last Friday, the most-traded SHFE gold contract rose 0.89%, with its weekly chart posting a second consecutive gain, up 0.55% for the week, and its July monthly chart rising 1.52%. The most-traded SHFE silver contract fell 1.01%, ending a two-week winning streak but still up 0.98% for the week, and its July monthly chart rising 1.21%. As of 8:16 AM on August 1, closing prices from the overnight session last Friday: Macro Front China: [State Council Executive Meeting: Studying and Implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Key Speech on the H1 Economic Situation and Efforts for H2 Economic Work] The meeting stressed the need to align thinking and understanding with the CPC Central Committee’s scientific assessment of the economic situation, take more concrete measures to consistently steer the economy toward new, superior, and sounder development, and strive for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period. It called for effectively enhancing the implementation efficiency of macro policies, making full and good use of all existing policies, and promptly devising and rolling out pragmatic and effective incremental policies. It also emphasized the need to effectively expand domestic demand, launch a set of robust measures in sectors with great potential and strong driving force, accelerate the execution of major projects designated in the 15th Five-Year Plan, and solidly advance the planning and construction of the “Six-Network” infrastructure. Efforts must be continuously made to strengthen internal drivers of development, and more concrete and effective measures should be introduced in building a unified national market and improving the business environment. We must persistently guard against and defuse risks in key areas, do a solid job in disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief, as well as work safety, strengthen support for people in difficulty, and secure the bottom line of people’s livelihood. (CCTV) [Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Visits Selected Automobile Producers for Supervision and Inspection] To further regulate competition order in the automotive industry and enhance production conformity and quality and safety levels of automotive products, the Equipment Industry Department I of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology conducted supervision and inspection on vehicle product safety assurance capabilities and production conformity at Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., NIO Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd., and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp., Ltd. from the 30th to the 31st. It is learned that going forward, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will, together with relevant departments, further carry out actions to improve production conformity and quality of road motor vehicle products, strengthen entry review and testing verification management for “aggressive” innovative designs of automotive products, urge automobile and motorcycle producers to thoroughly identify product safety risks and hazards, strengthen product testing, verification, and safety assessment, standardize marketing and promotional practices, uphold product safety bottom lines, and effectively protect consumers’ lawful rights and interests. (Xinhua News Agency) [CSRC Approves Registration of Coke Options] Recently, the CSRC approved the registration of coke options on the Dalian Commodity Exchange. The CSRC will urge the Dalian Commodity Exchange to make all preparations to ensure the smooth launch and stable operation of coke options. On the US dollar: Last Friday, the overnight US dollar index fell 0.2% to 99.78. On the weekly chart, the dollar index declined by 1.65% for the week. On the monthly chart, the dollar index declined by 1.37% for the month. According to a New York Times report, Fed Chairman Warsh is reportedly considering reducing the number of regularly scheduled interest-rate-setting meetings of the Federal Reserve, a move that could cause huge shockwaves and would mark the most significant change in how the Fed operates in recent years. Currently, the Fed’s 12-member Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets eight times a year to vote on whether to raise, lower, or maintain borrowing costs. According to four people familiar with the matter, Warsh proposed adjustments to the meeting frequency at this week’s Fed meeting. According to the people, at this week’s meeting, Warsh discussed the legal basis the Fed must follow regarding the minimum number of meetings it is required to hold each year and a timetable for such adjustments. According to sources, Walsh asked officials to provide him with their individual views, rather than holding a full discussion on the meeting agenda during this week’s session. (Jin10 Data APP) Fed Chairman Walsh kept interest rates unchanged this week, but three officials dissented, arguing for an immediate rate hike to address persistent inflation risks. Katharine Neiss, Deputy Head of Global Economics at PGIM Credit, said Walsh’s press conference performance was "weaker than expectations," and she expects the US Fed’s "hawkish pivot" to materialize in September, when three consecutive rate hikes could be delivered. Elias Haddad of Brown Brothers Harriman noted: The support for the US dollar from the resilience in US economic activity was offset by Walsh’s failure to translate his hawkish inflation rhetoric into credible policy action, raising the risk of the Fed falling behind the curve. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are currently pricing in a 65% probability of a September rate hike, a pullback from 82% a week ago. (Wall Street Insight) Three Fed policymakers said their dissenting votes in favor of a rate hike this week stemmed from stubborn inflationary pressures, signaling rising internal pressure on Fed Chairman Walsh to act. In statements released Friday morning, Hammack and Kashkari said they are concerned that, while the current round of price increases may have originated from short-term factors such as President Trump’s tariff policies and the Iran war, the inflation picture now warrants action by the US Fed. Logan joined them, stating that even if inflation has cooled somewhat, it is unlikely to fully pull back to the Fed’s 2% target without a rate increase; without any policy restraint, inflation could continue to exceed the target until an unexpected shock hits. Kashkari said that if inflation remains stubborn, he could support a series of rate hikes—not just a single move—to prevent it from becoming further entrenched. "A series of smaller policy adjustments may be preferable to waiting for developments and ultimately having to take more forceful action," he said. Hammack said the pace of price increases could continue to accelerate if the Fed does not tighten policy. "Inflation has been stubbornly above 2% for more than five years, and I am not confident it will fall back to our target on its own," she said. (Jin10 Data APP) Fed’s Barkin said it is an "open question" whether the US Fed has set interest rates at a level sufficiently restrictive to curb inflation, adding that he is unsure whether he would have voted in favor, like the three other regional Fed presidents who dissented in favor of a hike this week. In an interview on Friday, Barkin said: 'I think there is a strong case for tightening policy and taking back some of last year's rate cuts.' He noted that given the slowdown in June inflation data, 'I think one could also argue... there is time before the next meeting to judge whether the current policy stance is appropriate.' Barkin will not vote on interest rate decisions until next year. Additionally, Barkin was sceptical that the labour market has significantly strengthened. He said, 'It doesn't feel like the labour market is very tight.' He also pointed out that price increases are not transmitting evenly through the economy, making it difficult to gauge how much inflation remains. (Jin10 Data APP) On the macro front: This week will see the release of data including China July RatingDog Manufacturing PMI, Switzerland July CPI MoM, France July Manufacturing PMI Final, Germany July Manufacturing PMI Final, Eurozone July Manufacturing PMI Final, UK July Manufacturing PMI Final, US July S&P Global Manufacturing PMI Final, US July ISM Manufacturing PMI, US June Construction Spending MoM, US June Trade Balance, US June JOLTS Job Openings, US June Factory Orders MoM, China July RatingDog Services PMI, France June Industrial Production MoM, France July Services PMI Final, Germany July Services PMI Final, Eurozone July Services PMI Final, UK July Services PMI Final, Eurozone June PPI MoM, US July ADP Employment Change, US July S&P Global Services PMI Final, US July ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI, Switzerland July Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate, Eurozone June Retail Sales MoM, US July Challenger Job Cuts, US Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending August 1, US July Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, US June Wholesale Sales MoM, France Q2 ILO Unemployment Rate, Germany June Seasonally Adjusted Industrial Production MoM, Germany June Seasonally Adjusted Trade Balance, UK July Halifax Seasonally Adjusted House Price Index MoM, France June Trade Balance, Switzerland July Consumer Confidence Index, Canada July Employment Change, US July Unemployment Rate, US July Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Payrolls, US July Average Hourly Earnings YoY, US July Average Hourly Earnings MoM, US July NY Fed 1-Year Inflation Expectations, China July Trade Balance in USD terms, China July Foreign Exchange Reserves, China July Trade Balance, China July CPI YoY, and China July PPI YoY. In addition, attention this week should also be paid to: SpaceX will report its Q2 2026 results; 2028 FOMC voter, St. Louis Fed President Musalem will speak on the US economy and monetary policy; 2027 FOMC voter, Richmond Fed President Barkin will deliver a speech. Crude Oil: Both oil futures surged in the overnight session last Friday, with WTI up 3.84% and Brent up 4.79%. For the week, WTI futures fell 2.81%, while Brent futures slipped 0.7%. For the month, WTI futures soared 24.89% and Brent futures jumped 24.8%. A decline in ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz heightened market concerns over global crude oil shipments. Uncertainty persists over when Middle Eastern crude oil supply will return to normal. The US-Iran ceasefire agreement reached in June had completely broken down by early July. From mid to late July, the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical energy trade choke point, remained severely disrupted, with intermittent blockades at times. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries destroyed around 30% to 45% of Russia’s operational refining capacity, pushing European diesel refining margins above $60/bbl and driving global refined product prices near wartime highs. (Wall Street CN) Data released by the international shipping information platform “MarineTraffic” on July 31 showed that the number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the 30th fell to 5 from 22 the previous day, a decline of 77%. The platform’s data indicated that all 5 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz via the lane on the Iranian side. (Jin10 Data App) According to CBS News, citing multiple sources, the US and Israel are planning to carry out “one of the most intense bombing campaigns to date” against Iran’s energy infrastructure, potentially targeting power plants and refineries, with the operation possibly lasting through the weekend. Iranian media reported on August 1, citing an Iranian official, that Iran considers a US-Israeli attack on its infrastructure to be a “reckless act” and has developed a comprehensive plan to respond to “any possible reckless actions by the US.” (Jin10 Data App) According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the Yemeni Houthi group said that in implementing a “blockade for blockade” strategy, after imposing maritime restrictions on Saudi oil tankers, it had forced 8 Saudi tankers to change course and reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. (Jin10 Data App) Additionally, data from the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) showed that for the week ended July 28, speculative net long positions in Brent crude fell by 6,948 contracts to 185,083 contracts. Speculative net long positions in diesel rose by 2,654 contracts to 87,194 contracts. (Jin10 Data App) Recommended Reads:

According to Vital Materials, on July 30, the first Star600-EOSS 12-inch high-end precision optical magnetron sputtering mass production equipment independently developed by Jiangsu Vital Microelectronics was assembled and commissioned at the production site in the Xuzhou High-tech Zone, Jiangsu Province. It successfully passed automation and process verification and was officially delivered to a leading wafer foundry in China. This marks a major breakthrough for the company in high-end wafer-level optical coating equipment, spanning from R&D and manufacturing to industrialised delivery.

【SMM Magnesium Market Analysis: Loss of Blue Coal Drives Up Smelting Costs, Domestic Composite Cost of Magnesium Ingot Rises Month-on-month in June】The safety accident at a coal mine in Qinyuan at the end of May directly tightened the supply of raw coal circulation in the region, leading to a rapid surge in market coal prices.

SMM July 23 News: Metal markets: As of the midday close, base metals on the domestic market generally rose. SHFE copper edged down, while SHFE aluminum rose 0.45%. SHFE lead rose 1.02%. SHFE zinc rose 1.47%. SHFE tin rose 0.27%. SHFE nickel rose 1.05%. In addition, the most-traded foundry aluminum futures contract rose 0.5%, while the most-traded alumina contract fell 0.66%. The most-traded lithium carbonate contract rose 4.24%. The most-traded silicon metal contract rose 0.67%. The most-traded polysilicon futures contract rose 0.51%. Ferrous metals all rose. Iron ore rose 1.15%, rebar rose 0.52%, and HRC rose 0.46%. Stainless steel rose 0.61%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract rose 1.3%, and the most-traded coke contract rose 1.4%. Overseas base metals: As of 11:39 AM, LME metals all rose. LME copper rose 0.27%, LME aluminum rose 0.17%, LME lead rose 0.42%, LME zinc rose 0.75%, and LME tin edged up. LME nickel rose 0.58%. Precious metals: As of 11:39 AM, COMEX gold fell 0.46%, and COMEX silver fell 0.3%. Domestic precious metals: SHFE gold rose 0.86%; the most-traded SHFE silver contract rose 1.55%. In addition, as of midday close, the most-traded platinum futures contract fell 0.1%, and the most-traded palladium futures contract fell 0.38%. As of midday close, the most-traded containerized freight index (Europe route) contract rose 0.92% to 2,855 points. Selected futures midday prices as of 11:39 AM, July 23: Spot and Fundamentals Silver: Amid recurring geopolitical risks, silver prices are consolidating around steady levels. End-of-month willingness to sell from smelters is strong, spot transactions are near parity, and overall demand remains weak... Macro Front China: [The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration issued the Renewable Energy Development 15th Five-Year Plan] The plan states that by 2030, total renewable energy consumption is expected to reach approximately 1.8 billion mt of standard coal equivalent. By 2030, total installed renewable energy power generation capacity is expected to reach approximately 3.5 billion kW, with annual power generation of approximately 6 trillion kWh; total installed wind and solar power capacity is expected to exceed 2.8 billion kW, accounting for over 50% of total capacity, with annual power generation exceeding 4 trillion kWh and accounting for 30% of total generation. By 2030, the scale of non-electricity renewable energy utilization is expected to grow 1.5 times compared to 2025, equivalent to approximately 150 million mt of standard coal. By 2030, the average firm output of wind and solar PV (including source-side energy storage) nationwide is expected to reach 8% (around 11% for wind and 6% for PV), with wind and solar PV (including source-side energy storage) accounting for over 20% of electricity during the evening peak of summer and winter demand, an increase of approximately 10 percentage points. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, over 300 million kW of new reliable peak-shaving renewable energy capacity will be added. (from Wall Street News APP) [Beijing Expands Subsidized Products for the 2026 Consumer Goods Trade-in Program] The Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau issued an announcement on expanding the list of subsidized products for the 2026 consumer goods trade-in program. After obtaining filing confirmation from the Ministry of Commerce, ten additional product categories will be included in the subsidy program. The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows: Subsidies will be provided to individual consumers in Beijing purchasing the following ten categories of products: smart door locks, smart cameras, smart robot vacuums (including smart floor scrubbers and smart vacuum cleaners), smart toilets (including smart toilet seat covers), digital cameras (including action cameras), smart earphones, whole-house smart hosts (including smart home servers and smart gateways), smart beds (including smart mattresses), smart electric wheelchairs, and embodied AI robots (including companion robots, robotic dogs, exoskeleton robots, and elderly care robots). For individual consumers purchasing the above smart home products (including elderly-friendly home products), the subsidy standard is 15% of the final selling price after all discounts, with each person eligible for one subsidized item per category, and the subsidy per item capped at 1,500 yuan. (from Wall Street News APP) [Guangdong: Industrial Robot Production Up 34.2% YoY in H1] According to the Guangdong Statistics Information Network, in H1, the value-added of industrial enterprises above designated size in the province increased by 5.8% YoY. By sector, the value-added of the mining sector was up 8.8% YoY, manufacturing up 5.4%, and power, heat, gas, and water supply up 8.9%. By industry, the value-added of the computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing industry was up 11.6% YoY, electrical machinery and equipment up 4.2%, and automobile manufacturing up 9.9%. By product, industrial robot production was up 34.2% YoY, and integrated circuits up 29.7%. (from Wall Street News APP) [PBOC Net Drains 422 Billion Yuan from Open Market Today] The PBOC conducted 204 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations today at an interest rate of 1.4%, unchanged from the previous operation. A total of 626 billion yuan of reverse repos matured today. US Dollar: As of 11:39, the US dollar index fell 0.14 to 100.98. On July 22 local time, US President Trump mentioned in a speech in Georgia that a federal government "shutdown" would occur in September due to differences between Republicans and Democrats over spending priorities. On July 21 local time, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term spending bill that will fund federal government agencies through December 4, avoiding a government shutdown due to funding depletion before the November midterm elections. This temporary funding measure, also known as a "continuing resolution," will now be sent to the Senate for consideration. Republican leaders in the Senate are currently negotiating with Democrats and may propose their own short-term spending bill. If Congress fails to pass an appropriations bill in time, funding for most federal agencies and programs will expire at midnight on September 30, the end of the current fiscal year. (CCTV) As energy prices remain elevated, inflation expectations are heating up, and the market is focused on whether the upcoming Fed meeting next week will release clues about the future rate path. According to CME "FedWatch": the probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged in July is 65.3%, while the probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point hike is 34.7%. The probability of rates remaining unchanged through September is 22%, a cumulative 25-bp hike is 54.9%, and a cumulative 50-bp hike is 23%. Other currencies: Mizuho Securities economist Yusuke Matsuo said Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda is expected to reiterate the stance of seeking further rate hikes at next week's press conference, but this is unlikely to reverse the yen's weakness. "The market has largely priced in the expectation that the BOJ will hike rates once every six months, so such comments alone are unlikely to push the yen significantly higher. Given that the market anticipates clarity on the timing and magnitude of the next rate hike, any stance interpreted as dovish could exacerbate the yen's weakness amid broad dollar strength." The market widely expects the BOJ to keep its policy rate unchanged at 1% at next week's meeting as it assesses the impact of the last rate hike. (Jin10 Data APP) Data: Today, data releases include China's June Swift renminbi share in global payments, Australia's June seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, the UK's July CBI industrial orders balance, the eurozone's ECB deposit facility rate as of July 23, the eurozone's ECB main refinancing rate as of July 23, Canada's May retail sales m/m, the US initial jobless claims for the week ending July 18, and the eurozone's July consumer confidence index flash estimate. Also watch for: the ECB announces its interest rate decision; ECB President Christine Lagarde holds a monetary policy press conference; Google and Tesla reported Q2 earnings after the US market close on July 22. Crude oil: As of 11:39, both benchmarks rose, with WTI up 1.88% and Brent up 1.57%. The US-Iran conflict continues to escalate, and global energy markets are repricing for a protracted supply shock. Both the US and Iran have clearly signaled a refusal to negotiate, reducing expectations for a near-term ceasefire to virtually zero. The rise in oil prices is no longer driven purely by supply-demand logic; a geopolitical risk premium is becoming a structural anchor in the pricing system. (Wall Street CN) Phillip Nova analyst Priyanka Sachdeva noted in a report that if tensions continue to escalate, Brent crude could test $100/bbl. She said that while the market is currently bearing mainly logistical risks rather than actual crude losses, this distinction could quickly narrow if attacks persist. Sachdeva pointed out that the greatest risk for energy markets would be prolonged traffic disruptions in both the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz. She added that the market's flexibility in rerouting cargoes would be very limited at that point, and shipping disruptions could rapidly evolve into broader inflation concerns. (Jin10 Data APP) Spot Market Overview: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►

From H2 2025 to early 2026, the copper industry underwent profound structural shifts. China's smelting capacity continued to be released, reliance on imported raw materials deepened, and the supply of copper concentrates remained persistently tight. Driven by monetary policy changes, geopolitical conflicts, production cuts at mines outside China, and accelerated industry consolidation, copper prices repeatedly hit new highs. The industry shifted from a tight balance to a structural deficit, further strengthening copper's role as a strategic resource. Hereby, SMM joins hands with Qixian Hongda Refractory Co., Ltd. to cordially invite enterprises across copper mining, copper smelting, and related third-party equipment and consumables sectors to co-produce the . This initiative aims to gather high-quality industry resources and create an authoritative industry platform, helping enterprises enhance their industry influence and jointly promoting quality-driven industry development. (Click this link to request a free copy of the map: ) Qixian Hongda Refractory Co., Ltd. was established in 2014 in Jialing Town, Qixian County, Shanxi Province. The company integrates R&D, production, sales, and construction. Its main products include furnace linings for ferrous/non-ferrous metal smelting, various castables, ramming materials (AH1 copper furnace dry ramming material, A18 copper alloy dry ramming material), and thermal insulation and anti-seepage refractories. It operates its own raw material production line and a professional construction team. Its products are supplied to the national metallurgical and foundry industry. Adhering to the Jin merchant tradition of integrity, the company develops proprietary processes adapted to high-temperature working conditions and maintains long-term collaborations with enterprises such as Ningbo Jintian Copper, Wuhan Heavy Industry, and North Copper. Contact Information Wen Guojie 152 3546 4459 SMM Co-production Contact Ren Jie 186 5503 3505 renjie@smm.cn

[SMM Tin Morning Briefing: Korean Giants Frequently Signal Expansion, SHFE Tin Night Session Rises Over 1% to Return to 410,000]

Thrust Capital Partners (TCP) has acquired Quebec-based Alphacasting Inc., a manufacturer of high-precision titanium and aluminum investment castings for the aerospace and defense sectors. The company specializes in high-strength aluminum castings and is Canada's only foundry with titanium casting capabilities. TCP plans to support Alphacasting's operational expansion and long-term growth in the aerospace and defense supply chain.

SMM, July 17: In the metals market: Overnight, base metals broadly rose in both domestic and overseas markets, with only LME copper and SHFE copper falling together—LME copper declined 0.28% and SHFE copper eased 0.08%. LME lead, LME nickel, and SHFE lead all gained, with LME lead up 1%, LME nickel up 1.66%, and SHFE lead up 1.57%. Gains in other metals were within 1%. The most-traded alumina contract fell 0.59%, while the most-traded foundry aluminum contract rose 0.52%. Overnight in ferrous metals, stainless steel advanced 1.16%, iron ore rose 0.79%, and gains in rebar and hot-rolled coil were within 1%. In coking coal and coke, coking coal added 0.36% and coke edged up 0.08%. Overnight in precious metals, COMEX gold dropped 1.77% and COMEX silver tumbled 2.9%, touching an intraday low of $55.595/oz, its lowest since November 2025. In China, SHFE gold fell 1.34% and SHFE silver slumped 3.15%. Bernstein raised its 2026 gold price target to $4,533/oz, citing central bank reserve diversification and expectations that the US Fed will only hike rates once or twice at most over the coming year. (Jinshi Data APP) Overnight closing prices as of 6:41 on July 17: Macro Front China: [Ministry of Commerce Responds to Progress on Resolving Nexperia Semiconductor Issues] At a routine press conference on the 16th, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong responded to questions on progress in resolving issues concerning Nexperia, stating that since China and the Netherlands established an open and pragmatic comprehensive cooperative partnership more than a decade ago, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has continuously deepened. On July 7, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Schreinemacher visited China. Minister Wang Wentao co-chaired the 18th meeting of the China-Netherlands Joint Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation, where the two sides held candid, in-depth exchanges on China-Netherlands and China-EU economic and trade relations. Both sides agreed that governments should create a favorable environment, encouraging enterprises to resolve disputes through consultation and safeguarding the security and stability of global semiconductor industrial and supply chains. [US Initiates Anti-Circumvention Investigation on Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells] On July 13, 2026, in response to an application filed by US domestic companies First Solar, Inc., Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc., Talon PV, Swift Solar, Great Lakes Solex PR, LLC, DYCM Power, LLC, Suniva Inc., and Silfab Solar Inc., the US initiated an anti-circumvention investigation on crystalline silicon solar cells (whether or not assembled into modules) originating in China. The investigation examines potential circumvention of US antidumping and countervailing duty orders via two scenarios: (1) Chinese-made parts are assembled into solar cells and modules in Ethiopia and then exported to the US through Ethiopia; (2) Chinese-made parts are assembled into solar cells in Ethiopia, then exported to Vietnam for module assembly before being re-exported from Vietnam to the US. On February 1, 2024, the US Department of Commerce initiated the second sunset reviews of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on crystalline silicon solar cells imported from China. On June 7, 2024, the Department of Commerce issued the final results of the expedited second sunset review of the countervailing duty order. (China Trade Remedies Information) US Dollar: As of the overnight close, the US dollar index rose 0.21% to 100.72. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan (2026 FOMC voting member) called for higher interest rates, stating that inflation does not appear to be sustainably returning to the central bank's 2% target. A modest increase in rates would better balance the outlook and risks under the Fed's dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment. Artificial intelligence (AI) may eventually deliver a productivity surge, but for now, demand effects are pushing up prices as demand outstrips supply. (from Wall Street News APP) Fed Vice Chair Jefferson: Policy is well-prepared and can be reconsidered if necessary. The current policy stance should support the labor market and allow inflation to resume its decline toward the 2% target as the effects of tariffs and energy price pass-through fade. In a scenario where inflation fails to begin cooling, it may be appropriate to re-examine the policy stance to ensure price stability is achieved. The current policy is well-positioned to respond to changes and will be shaped based on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. Firmly committed to restoring inflation to our 2% target, consistent with our dual mandate. The impact of the Middle East conflict on demand is expected to be mild, as the US is a net oil exporter and its economy has relatively low oil dependence. Two major developments are being closely monitored—the Middle East conflict and the popularization of artificial intelligence (AI). The current situation underscores a policy dilemma where tension exists between the dual mandate objectives. Each development cannot be viewed in isolation; policy must be formulated considering overall economic conditions. Energy shocks and trade policy shocks are compounding one another, with the latter already impacting output and prices at least in the short run. Successive shocks bring the risk that inflation becomes entrenched and inflation expectations become de-anchored. The economic shocks from AI could have lasting effects on both supply and demand. If the demand effects from AI infrastructure and consumption arrive ahead of AI's productivity dividends, AI could exert upward pressure on inflation. If AI's productivity dividends reduce production costs more quickly, it could generate downward pressure on inflation. (from Wall Street News APP) According to the CME "FedWatch" tool: The probability of the Fed holding rates steady in July is 88.8%, with an 11.2% chance of a cumulative 25bp hike. The probability of holding rates steady through September is 48.8%, with a 46.2% chance of a cumulative 25bp hike and a 5.1% chance of a cumulative 50bp hike. (Jinshi Data) Macro front: Today will see the release of US June housing starts (annualized), US June building permits, US June import price index (MoM), US June industrial production (MoM), the preliminary US July one-year inflation expectations, the preliminary US July University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, the Eurozone May seasonally adjusted current account, the Eurozone June final CPI (YoY), the Eurozone June final CPI (MoM), and other data. Additionally, China's refined oil products will see a new pricing window open. The 2026 World AI Conference & High-Level Meeting on AI Global Governance will be held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote speech. 2026 FOMC voter and Dallas Fed President Logan speaks; 2028 FOMC voter and Kansas City Fed President Schmid speaks; Fed Vice Chair Jefferson speaks on the economy and monetary policy; and US President Trump delivers a national address. Crude Oil: As of the overnight close, both benchmark oil prices fell—WTI crude slipped 0.03% and Brent crude edged down 0.11%. Tensions between the US and Iran persist, and Tehran appears unwilling to back down in the face of warnings from US President Donald Trump. The US military also stated that it assisted more than 10 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz overnight. Nevertheless, shipping traffic remains significantly reduced. According to RBC Capital Markets data, the seven-day average of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has declined from 4.6 million bpd to 3.9 million bpd. (Bloomberg) Sources: Crude oil loadings from all Iraqi oil terminals have been suspended following the drone collision with an oil tanker. (Jinshi Data APP) According to Kpler data and a source with direct knowledge of flows, after months of restricted exports, Iraqi crude loadings more than doubled in the first half of July, averaging roughly 1.2 million bpd as shipments accelerated. Kpler data shows Iraq's crude exports averaged around 500,000 bpd in June. Despite the monthly increase, exports from Iraq's southern Basrah port remain far below pre-US-Iraq war levels—before March, average daily exports had exceeded 3.2 million bpd. (Reuters)