2026-09-17 Thursday
2026-09-22
13:03:33
[Sichuan's industrial added value above designated size increased by 6.7% in the first eight months, and lithium-ion battery production increased by 80.5%] (1) On September 16, the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Statistics released the main indicators of Sichuan's national economy from January to August 2026. (2) In the first eight months, the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size in the province increased by 6.7% year-on-year, 1.4 percentage points higher than the national average. (3) The production of lithium-ion batteries and integrated circuits grew strongly, increasing by 80.5% and 20.1% year-on-year, respectively. (4) New driving forces are growing rapidly, and the "new", "intelligent", and "green" content of industries continues to increase, with the output of related products growing rapidly. Among them, smart TVs increased by 12.3% year-on-year, and industrial robots increased by 5.3% year-on-year.
12:42:12
[Urban President Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union Address: EU Plays the "Defense Card," Settles the "New Balance Sheet"] On September 16, local time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, summarizing the Commission's work over the past year and outlining policy priorities for the coming year. The speech lasted about an hour, followed by a debate among European Parliament members. From security and defense to industrial competition, from foreign trade to energy and key raw materials, this year's State of the Union address sent a prominent signal: facing a constantly changing international environment, the EU is accelerating the enhancement of its security capabilities and economic resilience, and is attempting to strengthen its operational capabilities by adjusting trade relations, strengthening its industrial base, and expanding external partnerships. (CCTV News)
12:11:31
[Spot Gold Technical Analysis: Focus on $4257 Support Level] 1. Spot gold may retest the $4257 support level per ounce. A decisive break below this level could lead to further declines towards the $4155-$4200 range. 2. Gold prices failed to hold after briefly breaking above the descending channel, and this failure, coupled with the subsequent deep pullback, confirms the continuation of the downtrend. Driven by wave C, the decline could extend to $4100, the 100% projection of that wave. 3. Resistance is located at $4318. A break above this level could lead to further gains towards the $4354 resistance. 4. On the daily chart, gold prices have initially broken below the $4318 support level, opening up space towards the $4085-$4170 range. The nature of the current decline is unclear. 5. This decline could be a continuation of the downtrend since $5596, or a deep correction of the rebound from $3943. Overall, if a second wave of rebound occurs, the deeper the current decline, the weaker the rebound is likely to be.
11:33:58
【Ziyuan Releases Commercial Real-World Case Study of Expedition A3 Ultra: World's First Mass-Produced Full-Size Humanoid Robot】 (1) On the evening of September 16, Ziyuan officially released a video showcasing the world's first mass-produced full-size humanoid robot, Expedition A3 Ultra, in a commercial real-world scenario. (2) The video highlights Expedition A3 Ultra's capabilities in multi-robot collaboration, human-robot collaboration, and autonomous operation in real-world operating environments such as car dealerships and hotels. (3) This demonstrates the practical achievements of full-size humanoid robots in moving from technology verification to large-scale commercial application. (4) Ziyuan stated that Expedition A3 Ultra has completed mass production verification of thousands of automotive-grade units, supporting convenient deployment and modular maintenance. (5) This product can meet the needs of chain stores, hotel groups, and multi-location commercial customers for standardized deployment, continuous operation, and large-scale management.
11:27:31
[Goldman Sachs Shifts Stance: Expects Another 25 Basis Point Rate Hike by the Fed in October, and Two More Rate Hikes in 2026] (1) Goldman Sachs now expects the Fed to raise interest rates by another 25 basis points in October, becoming one of the first major Wall Street investment banks to predict consecutive rate hikes after the Fed released hawkish signals on Wednesday. This reverses Goldman Sachs' previous view that the Fed had completed its tightening cycle after raising rates in September. (2) Goldman Sachs said that the Fed's latest interest rate forecasts show that the vast majority of policymakers expect at least one more rate hike this year, indicating that the "baseline expectation" for 2026 is two rate hikes. The brokerage said that October is the most likely time to take the next step, as policymakers will position further tightening of monetary policy to support a "more timely return" to the Fed's 2% inflation target. (3) The Fed raised interest rates by 25 basis points earlier on Wednesday to a range of 3.75%-4.00%. Goldman Sachs said the meeting was more hawkish than expected, citing factors including policymakers' interest rate forecasts, an increase in the neutral rate, and Chairman Warsh's repeated descriptions of the rate hike as merely "withdrawing a dose of easing." (4) According to the CME Group's FedWatch tool, traders expect a roughly 50% probability of another 25 basis point rate hike by the Fed in October; this probability rose sharply after policymakers hinted that further tightening might be necessary. (5) After Goldman Sachs adjusted its forecasts, Bank of America Global Research became the only major brokerage firm to expect a more aggressive tightening path, predicting rate hikes in October and December. (6) The market will also be watching the Bank of England's policy decision later that day, as well as the Bank of Japan's policy decision on Friday, for further clues about the global interest rate outlook.
11:26:14
[Dollar Holds Above Seven-Week High, Forex Market Focuses on Bank of Japan and Bank of England Decisions] 1. The dollar fluctuated around 100.35 on Thursday, maintaining a seven-week high. Overnight, the dollar index surged 0.7%, recovering the 100 level. This followed the Federal Reserve's rate hike announcement and hints at further tightening in the coming months. Investors are now awaiting the Bank of England's rate decision later in the day and the Bank of Japan's policy meeting results on Friday. 2. Federal Reserve Chairman Warsh supported the unanimously approved rate hike, causing the dollar and US Treasury yields to rise in tandem. Fed officials confirmed a hawkish policy path and expect another rate hike in 2026. 3. Commonwealth Bank of Australia FX strategist Carol Kong stated that Warsh's stance was significantly more hawkish than the market expected, and his unexpected provision of forward guidance on the future path of rate hikes prompted the market to revise its interest rate expectations upward, ultimately driving the dollar higher. The bank expects the dollar to remain strong. 4. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the interest rate futures market currently indicates a roughly 90% probability of the Fed raising rates by 25 basis points before the end of the year. 5. Market attention has shifted to the Bank of Japan. It is widely expected that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates to their highest level in 31 years on Friday and signal its intention to continue pushing up borrowing costs, joining other major central banks in addressing oil-price-driven inflationary pressures. Investors will be focusing on whether Governor Kazuo Ueda will provide clues about the timing and pace of future rate hikes. 6. Analysts point out that a more crucial question is how Ueda will describe the policy path after September, especially given that inflation remains high, and whether the Bank of Japan will hint at accelerating policy normalization. The yen is facing a test: last week, speculative positions turned to net long positions, and the yen rose to a seven-month high against the dollar, but Japanese retail investors are still maintaining short positions in the yen, believing that the recent gains may be unsustainable.
11:21:47
[Copper Prices Stabilize After Fed Rate Hike, Traders Downplay Hawkish Signals, Fundamentals Still Supported] (1) Copper prices stabilized after the Fed raised interest rates as widely expected by the market, with traders downplaying the hawkish signals released by the Fed Chairman. (2) Despite a stronger dollar, copper futures prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) remained relatively stable. Fed officials expect another rate hike later this year, which could put pressure on non-yielding assets such as copper. (3) Copper prices had previously surged to record highs, driven by expectations that the US might impose tariffs on refined copper; currently, copper prices are consolidating at high levels. The tariff expectations have led to a large influx of copper into US inventories, raising concerns about potential supply shortages in other regions. (4) So far, the US has not introduced any new trade measures, which casts uncertainty on the previous rally. (5) However, demand expectations in the data center and renewable energy sectors, as well as supply disruptions at major mines, continue to support copper prices. (6) Sam Crittenden, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said in a report: "The news that the United States will not impose tariffs on copper has cooled some speculative trading in the physical market. Despite the short-term price weakness, the fundamentals remain positive."
11:08:34
[Bank of England Decision Preview: Rates Expected to Remain Unchanged, Markets Betting on November Action, Hawkish Signals Under Watch] 1. The Bank of England is expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday, but the market is closely watching for any signals that soaring energy prices may force the central bank to follow the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank in raising interest rates. 2. A survey last week showed that most economists expect the Bank of England to keep interest rates unchanged for the remainder of the year, with only three of the nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee expected to vote for a rate hike this week. However, financial markets priced in a 25 basis point rate hike in November at an 80% probability, with investors expecting about four rate hikes over the next year. Economists are relatively cautious, with only about one-eighth of respondents expecting a rate hike in November. 3. Since the beginning of this month, UK natural gas and Brent crude oil futures prices have risen by nearly 20%, putting pressure on the UK, which is highly dependent on energy imports. The UK's inflation rate reached 3.1% in August, higher than the central bank's 2% target; in the past five years, the Bank of England has only achieved its inflation target in three months. JPMorgan economist Allan Monks said he expects the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged this week to avoid reinforcing expectations of rapid tightening, but still anticipates a rate hike in November, noting that energy price trends suggest inflation could reach 3.9% by February next year, and the central bank "clearly has no reason to delay any longer." 4. Some analysts also believe a rate hike is not a certainty. They point out that the labor market is cooling and market interest rates are already at a high level, which in itself helps the central bank tighten financial conditions. Bank of England Governor Bailey said after the last policy meeting: "Please don't leave this room with the idea that 'the Bank of England is gradually moving towards raising interest rates.'" 5. Bond investors will also be watching the Bank of England's annual update on reducing its balance sheet. The Daily Telegraph reported that the central bank will stop selling 20-year and 30-year bonds that have been hit hard by the bond sell-off, which could leave more fiscal space for Chancellor Healy to prepare his first budget on October 28. The report also stated that the central bank may stop selling any bonds to the secondary market and instead sell them to the Office of the Debt Management. Royal Bank of Canada strategist Peter Schaffrik points out that this will make the DMO the sole supplier of UK government bonds in the market, thus giving it complete control over government bond issuance strategies.
11:05:16
RMB SHIBOR (Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate): Latest data as of September 17, 2026. Rates rose in four timeframes and remained unchanged in four others. The overnight SHIBOR was 1.46%, up 1.8 basis points. The overnight SHIBOR saw the largest change among all timeframes, rising 1.8 basis points. (For details on SHIBOR and changes over the past ten working days, please refer to the chart provided by FX678). Other timeframes show: 1-week SHIBOR at 1.45%, up 1.8 basis points; 2-week SHIBOR at 1.438%, up 1.5 basis points; 1-month SHIBOR at 1.4222%, up 0.02 basis points; 3-month SHIBOR at 1.43%, unchanged; 6-month SHIBOR at 1.45%, unchanged; 9-month SHIBOR at 1.47%, unchanged; 1-year SHIBOR at 1.48%, unchanged.
10:59:25
On September 17th, Logic Robotics officially announced the commercial deployment of its Expedition A3 Ultra, showcasing its real-world use in diverse offline scenarios such as car dealerships, hotels, and convenience stores. This humanoid robot can handle multiple tasks, including greeting guests, cleaning guest rooms, nighttime security patrols, shelf restocking, and goods transfer. It also supports collaborative operation of multiple robots, achieving fully autonomous operation with minimal human intervention. In terms of hardware, the Expedition A3 Ultra is equipped with a 360-degree omnidirectional environmental perception system, employing a high-precision positioning solution that integrates UWB and RTK, and features a computing platform with a computing power of 700 TOPS. It also supports autonomous charging and rapid battery swapping, ensuring continuous operation over extended periods. According to Logic Robotics, the product has already completed mass production verification at the thousand-unit level, possessing the basic capabilities for large-scale deployment.
10:43:47
[US House Democrats Publicly Shelve $2.8 Billion Bomb Sale to Israel, Rare Public Opposition] (1) On Wednesday, House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking Democrat Meeks publicly announced the shelving of the Trump administration's plan to sell 40,000 one-ton bombs to Israel, worth $2.8 billion. (2) Meeks stated that he still supports Israel's security and self-defense, but is concerned about the large number of deaths and civilian risks caused by the wars in Gaza against Hamas and Lebanon against Hezbollah, and therefore will not approve the sale at present. This decision does not weaken Congress's support for Israel's legitimate defense, but reflects Congress's need to ensure that US-aided weapons are used legally and responsibly. (3) Such opposition is usually carried out behind the scenes, and Meeks's public stance is rare, reflecting the Democratic Party's dissatisfaction with the Trump and Netanyahu administrations. Senior members of Congress are usually notified by the State Department and can informally shelve the sale to obtain information; the State Department usually respects this, but the Trump administration ignored Meeks's opposition and proceeded with a partial arms sale in February 2025. (4) According to The Washington Post, the weapon package included 40,000 2,000 bombs (20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s) and 20,000 I2000 penetrating warheads. The MK-84 could create a crater 50 feet wide and 36 feet deep, penetrate 15 inches of metal or 11 feet of concrete, and project fragments up to 400 yards.
10:41:39
[Main Fund Flow: Changxin Technology Sees Net Selling Exceeding 1.4 Billion Yuan] As of now, the overall net outflow of main funds in the A-share market today reached 19.488 billion yuan. The funds showed a clear structural inflow trend, with foldable screens, full-screen displays, and panel-related sectors seeing increased holdings by main funds. Among them, the foldable screen sector saw a net inflow of 2.191 billion yuan, ranking first among all sectors. On the outflow side, sectors such as securities lending and borrowing, margin trading, and FTSE Russell inclusion stocks experienced main fund withdrawals. The securities lending and borrowing sector saw the most significant net outflow of 20.108 billion yuan, making it the sector with the most substantial outflow of funds today. The divergence in capital flows among individual stocks was also evident: Muxi Co., Ltd. received a net inflow of 1.806 billion yuan from major funds, ranking first among all individual stocks. BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Shanzi High-Tech Co., Ltd., and Sinoma Science & Technology Co., Ltd. also ranked high in terms of net inflow of major funds. Changxin Technology Co., Ltd., on the other hand, was net sold by major funds for 1.488 billion yuan, making it the stock with the highest net selling amount on that day. Zijin Mining Co., Ltd., Yongding Co., Ltd., and GRINM Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. also ranked among the top in terms of net outflow of major funds.
10:41:22
Liu Yu, chief economist at Industrial Securities, pointed out that the Federal Reserve is highly likely to raise interest rates by at least another 25 basis points. At the latest September FOMC meeting, the Fed announced an increase of 25 basis points in the target range for the federal funds rate, raising it to 3.75%-4.0%. Liu believes that after the start of this rate hike cycle, in order to cool down the overheated economy and suppress high inflation, there is still at least 25 basis points of room for further rate hikes. Looking at the Fed's dot plot, there will be another 25 basis point rate hike before the end of this year, which is largely in line with current market expectations. Whether there will be further rate hikes in 2027 depends mainly on the performance of subsequent US economic growth and inflation data. If capital expenditure in the AI field can maintain a high growth rate, regardless of whether final productivity improves, the possibility of a Fed rate hike in 2027 is not low, and the final interest rate of this rate hike cycle will most likely fall within the 4%-5% range. Due to the pressure of debt size, the probability of this round of rate hikes ultimately reaching above 5% is relatively low, unless a significant improvement in US productivity can be confirmed. From an asset performance perspective, the Federal Reserve's continued interest rate hikes can enhance the credibility of its policies, which is conducive to stabilizing long-term US Treasury yields in the short term and pushing the yield curve towards flattening. Looking at the longer term, the rise in long-term US Treasury yields is mainly driven by three factors: rising oil prices, high fiscal deficits, and expansion of AI capital expenditures. Oil prices may turn downwards in the next 1-6 months, but the fiscal deficit and AI capital expenditures are structural factors, and the possibility of a reversal in the short term is very low. There is still a risk that long-term US Treasury yields will continue to rise, and the 10-year US Treasury yield may subsequently rise to the 5.2%-5.5% range.
10:34:40
[Domestic Special Medical Foods for Cancer Patients Achieve Breakthrough] Recently, two special medical purpose formula foods for cancer patients aged 10 and above have successfully obtained registration approvals, filling the market gap for domestically produced special medical products of this type. In the future, they will provide cancer patients with more diverse and sufficient options for clinical nutritional support programs. Cancer patients are a high-risk group for malnutrition. According to relevant research statistics, approximately 5 million new cancer patients are diagnosed in my country each year, and the incidence of malnutrition among malignant tumor patients can reach 40% to 80%. On the one hand, cancer itself induces a state of high catabolism and chronic systemic inflammatory response in patients. On the other hand, patients often experience adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, and difficulty eating during anti-tumor treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The combination of these factors easily leads to malnutrition in cancer patients, negatively impacting treatment effectiveness. Currently, clinical nutritional support is an essential and crucial component of the comprehensive cancer treatment system.