Crude oil posted a weekly gain of over 4%, snapping a four-week losing streak, metals showed mixed performance, LME aluminum dropped over 2%, and gold and silver posted weekly declines. [Overnight Market]

SMM, July 13 –

Metals Market:

In overnight trading last Friday, base metals on both domestic and overseas markets showed mixed performance. LME aluminum led the declines with a 2.07% drop, while SHFE nickel led the gains with a 0.78% rise. The remaining metals all had changes within 1%. The main alumina contract fell 0.4%, and the main cast aluminum contract fell 0.78%.

In overnight trading last Friday, ferrous metals fell except for stainless steel and iron ore. Stainless steel rose 0.03%, and iron ore rose 0.27%. Hot-rolled coil and rebar both edged down. For coking coal and coke, coking coal fell 1.03%, and coke fell 1.15%.

In overnight trading last Friday, for precious metals, COMEX gold fell 0.29%, with a weekly edge up of 0.08%. COMEX silver fell 0.74%, with a weekly decline of 1.25%. Domestically, SHFE gold fell 0.56%, with a weekly decline of 0.83%, and SHFE silver fell 0.58%, with a weekly decline of 2.63%.

HSBC lowered its average gold price forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing expectations of a hawkish turn in Fed monetary policy and a stronger US dollar that continues to pressure gold prices. The bank cut its 2026 average price forecast from $4,864 per ounce to $4,560, and its 2027 forecast from $5,000 to $4,925. HSBC expects gold prices to fluctuate in a range of $3,800 to $4,700 for the rest of 2026, ending the year near $4,750. (Wall Street CN)

As of 7:17 on July 11, last Friday’s overnight closing prices:

Macro Front

Domestically:

[State Council Executive Meeting: Promote the Scaled Development of Emerging Pillar Industries Across the Entire Chain, Strengthen Basic Research and Key Software and Hardware Breakthroughs] According to CCTV, Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting that studied work related to cultivating emerging pillar industries. The meeting pointed out the need to promote the scaled development of emerging pillar industries across the entire chain, strengthen basic research and breakthroughs in key software and hardware, and accelerate technological iteration and ecosystem improvement. It also highlighted the need to optimize regulatory models and guide localities to develop according to their own conditions and in differentiated ways. (Jinshi Data APP)

[Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs: Implement Temporary Export Ban Management on Helium] The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs issued an announcement, stating that in accordance with relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China, they have decided to implement temporary export ban management on helium (Customs commodity code: 2804290010). This announcement takes effect from the date of issuance, and subsequent adjustments will be announced separately. (Jinshi Data APP)

[National Electricity Load Hits a Record High of 1.518 Billion kW] Since the beginning of this year, the national economy has continued to develop towards new and better directions, with end-user electrification levels steadily rising. Combined with recent high temperatures in many parts of the country, electricity loads have rapidly climbed. On July 10, China’s nationwide electricity load hit a record high for the first time this year, peaking at 1.518 billion kW, an increase of 10 million kW from the historical extreme. Since the start of summer, the south China regional power grid and multiple provincial grids, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Ningxia, Gansu, Fujian and Shaanxi, have set new record highs in electricity load more than 20 times cumulatively. The repeated record highs in electricity demand this year were driven primarily by three factors: First, steady growth in industrial electricity consumption. High-tech manufacturing and high-end equipment manufacturing are booming, and electricity use by emerging industries such as NEVs, energy storage and computing equipment continues to expand. Second, relatively rapid growth in service sector electricity consumption. Since the beginning of this year, the YoY growth rate of electricity consumption in the battery swapping and charging service industry and the internet data service industry has both exceeded 40%. Third, high temperatures have pushed up electricity loads. As residents’ living standards continue to improve, the proportion of air-conditioning cooling load in the national total is approaching 30%, and in some provinces it exceeds 40%. (National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC))

[National Energy Administration: The share of non-fossil energy consumption will increase by an average of about 1 percentage point per annum by 2028]The National Energy Administration issued the “Energy Sector Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Action Plan (2026–2028).” The plan proposes that, by 2028, the share of non-fossil energy consumption will increase by an average of about 1 percentage point per annum; the coal consumption rate of coal-fired power units will be reasonably controlled, and the proportion of coal-fired capacity achieving the current energy efficiency benchmark level will strive to increase by 15 percentage points; a number of zero-carbon and low-carbon coal mining areas and oil regions will be established; support will be given to establishing a number of zero-carbon industrial parks, with significant progress made in energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industries and continuously improved levels of green energy use. The plan proposes vigorously promoting energy saving and carbon reduction in thermal power. It will steadily and orderly shut down a batch of coal-fired power units of 300,000 kW class and below where conditions permit, while encouraging the construction of replacement units meeting next-generation coal power standards; promote the implementation of a number of supercritical/ultra-supercritical cross-generational upgrades and retrofits for 600,000 kW class coal-fired units. Support will be given to implementing zero-carbon and low-carbon fuel co-firing and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) retrofit construction for units where conditions allow, with carbon emission levels per kWh after retrofitting expected to be reduced by about 10%. It will implement a batch of coal power, gas power and new energy integration projects, supporting coal power and new energy in achieving integrated carbon reduction effects through methods such as coupled peak shaving and peak supply via thermal storage and energy storage, and integrated collection and transmission. (Jin10 Data App)

US dollar side:

Overnight last Friday, the US dollar index edged up 0.03% to 100.96, posting a weekly gain of 0.05%. The Fed’s semi-annual report showed that in 2026, US economic activity maintained robust expansion overall, primarily driven by high-tech investment and government spending. Factory output grew strongly due to AI-related data center investments, and production capacity continued to improve. However, the housing market stalled, and the external economy was weighed down by the Middle East conflict and tariffs, resulting in sluggish growth. The labour market was generally stable, with both wages and productivity increasing, but slowing immigration led to a decline in labour supply, while small businesses and households still faced relatively tight credit conditions. Inflation remained elevated and firmed further in spring, with asset prices above historical norms. The financial system was resilient overall, with ample bank reserves, and the private credit market continued to function normally despite some redemption pressures. Long-term inflation expectations remained well anchored near the 2% target, although the uncertainty brought by the Iran conflict was a primary risk. (Jin10 Data App)

The report noted that the Fed’s preferred Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index remained about twice the 2% target as of this May. This was also the first monetary policy report released since the new Fed Chairman Warsh took office. Warsh will testify before the House and Senate committees on Tuesday and Wednesday this week respectively, undergoing routine mid-year review on monetary policy. (Wall Street CN)

According to CME “Fed Watch”: The probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged in July is 66.3%, and the probability of a cumulative 25 basis point rate hike is 33.7%. The probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged through September is 31.0%, the probability of a cumulative 25 basis point rate hike is 51.1%, and the probability of a cumulative 50 basis point rate hike is 18.0%. (Jin10 Data App)

Other currencies:

According to a Reuters report, three sources familiar with the Bank of Japan’s thinking said the BOJ plans to keep interest rates unchanged in July but will maintain its policy guidance, committing to continue pushing ahead with the rate hike process. One source said, “With oil prices falling, downside risks to the economy have diminished somewhat. But the high cost of past imports will continue to exert upward pressure on prices.” Two other sources expressed similar views. They also stated that the BOJ may raise its FY2026 economic growth forecast in its July quarterly report and will continue to watch for inflation overshoot risks, as cost increases from a weak yen and strong AI demand partially offset the impact of falling oil prices. (Jin10 Data App)

ING economists Marieke Blom and Amrita Naik Nimbalkar said in a report that if the eurozone savings rate falls to pre-pandemic levels, it could unlock goods and services demand worth approximately 1% of GDP. In Q1 of this year, household savings stood at 14.3% of disposable income, higher than the pre-pandemic five-year average of 12.5%. In the US, the savings rate in the last quarter of 2025 was 10.2%, a level which could add nearly 2% to eurozone GDP. Consumption is expected to remain weak as higher mortgage rates, slowing credit growth and precautionary savings weigh on spending. However, they said a shift from bank deposits to investments could lay the foundation for stronger spending and domestic demand in the coming years. (Jin10 Data App)

On the macro front:

This week, China will release data including June trade balance in US dollar terms, June trade balance, June YoY exports and imports, Q2 GDP YoY, June total retail sales YoY, June industrial added value above designated size YoY, June nationwide electricity consumption YoY, and June nationwide electricity consumption. The US will release data including June unadjusted CPI YoY, June seasonally adjusted CPI MoM, June seasonally adjusted core CPI MoM, June unadjusted core CPI YoY, June PPI YoY, June PPI MoM, July NY Empire State manufacturing index, initial jobless claims for the week ending July 11, June retail sales MoM, July Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index, June NFIB small business optimism index, ADP employment change weekly for the week ending June 27, July NAHB housing market index, May business inventories MoM, June pending home sales index MoM, June annualized housing starts total, June building permits total, June import price index MoM, June industrial output MoM, July preliminary one-year inflation expectations, and July preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment index. The Eurozone will release data including May industrial output MoM, May seasonally adjusted trade balance, May seasonally adjusted current account, June final CPI YoY, and June final CPI MoM. The UK will release data including May three-month GDP MoM, May manufacturing output MoM, May seasonally adjusted goods trade balance, and May industrial output MoM. Data such as Canada’s May wholesale sales MoM and the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decision as of July 15 will also be released.

In addition, the State Council Information Office will hold a press conference on H1 2026 import and export situation; the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will release the monthly report on residential sales prices in 70 large and medium-sized cities; the State Council Information Office will hold a press conference on national economic performance; the National Energy Administration will release nationwide electricity consumption data around the 15th of each month. China’s refined oil products will see a new pricing adjustment window open. Fed Governor Waller will speak; Fed Chairman Warsh will testify before the House Financial Services Committee at the hearing on the “Fed’s Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report”; 2027 FOMC voter and Chicago Fed President Goolsbee will participate in a fireside chat; FOMC permanent voter and New York Fed President Williams will speak; Fed Chairman Warsh will testify before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs at the hearing on the “Fed’s Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report.” On July 16, the Fed will release the Beige Book on economic conditions; 2028 FOMC voter and St. Louis Fed President Musalem will speak; 2026 FOMC voter and Dallas Fed President Logan will speak; Fed Vice Chairman Jefferson will speak on the economy and monetary policy. Bank of England Governor Bailey will speak; the Bank of Canada will release its interest rate decision and monetary policy report, and BoC Governor Macklem and Senior Deputy Governor Rogers will hold a monetary policy press conference.

Crude oil side:

Overnight last Friday, oil prices on both benchmarks fell, with WTI crude down 0.79% and Brent crude down 1.42%. On a weekly basis, WTI crude rose 4.11% and Brent crude rose 4.3%, together ending a prior four-week losing streak. Markets are still pinning hopes on when the Strait of Hormuz will reopen for navigation. Notably, after the US and Iran conflict escalated this week, the weekly oil price shed its four-week losing streak, gaining over 4% for the week.

According to CCTV News, on Friday, July 10, local time, US President Trump posted on his social media platform “Truth Social,” stating that Iran wanted to continue “negotiations” with the US, and the US had agreed to continue negotiations. Trump also said the US had clearly informed Iran that the ceasefire was over. Subsequently, Xinhua News Agency, citing US media reports, said a new round of US and Iran negotiations may be held in Switzerland this week. However, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency, sources close to the Iranian negotiating team said the claim that Iran and the US would hold a new round of talks this week was untrue. According to CCTV, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said on Friday that Iran has never sought to negotiate with the US but agreed to a visit by mediators to Iran. (Wall Street CN)

CCTV reporters learned from the Iranian side that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi will lead a diplomatic delegation to visit Oman on the 11th. During the visit, the two sides plan to engage in dialogue and exchange views on bilateral relations and the regional situation, especially the current conditions in the Strait of Hormuz. (CCTV)

Data released on the 10th by international market services firm Kpler showed that on July 9, the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz area fell to 22 from 30 the previous day, marking the second consecutive day of declining strait traffic volume. Kpler said this data includes both commercial and non-commercial vessels, with commercial vessel traffic slightly higher than non-commercial. “The renewed escalation of US-Iran military confrontation has weakened market confidence that diplomatic efforts can bring stability to the situation in the near term.” (Xinhua News Agency)

Barclays: Risks to the forecasts of $96/bbl and $85/bbl for Brent crude oil prices in 2026 and 2027 respectively are fairly balanced. This week, OPEC will release its monthly crude oil market report (specific release time of the monthly report is pending, typically published around 18-21 Beijing time).