Real-time News

HSBC's preview of the US July CPI: It is expected that several core inflation components will cool down more than expected, leading to both the overall CPI and core CPI falling short of market expectations.

August 9th - The US CPI report, to be released next Wednesday, is undoubtedly the most closely watched data of the week. Economists generally expect the annual inflation rate to slow slightly, but core inflation is likely to remain high, reflecting persistent price pressures in the services and housing sectors. According to the latest data, the Federal Reserve remains cautious, emphasizing that it needs further assurance that inflation is sustainably approaching its 2% target before considering interest rate cuts.

August 9th - As Typhoon Dolphin approaches, its impact on Shanghai continues to intensify, making the flood control situation severe. Mayor Gong Zheng chaired a video conference today (August 9th) to coordinate typhoon defense and response efforts, conducting further checks, deployments, and implementation of typhoon preparedness measures.

According to real-time data from Lighthouse Pro, as of 12:04 PM on August 9th, the film "The Eight Immortals!" had grossed over 1.4 billion yuan.

Conflict Updates: 1. Russian Operations Command: The Ilsky oil refinery caught fire due to drone debris. 2. Ukraine claims attacks in Kyiv and other areas, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. 3. Local authorities state the fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar has been extinguished. 4. According to Interfax: Russia claims a drone attacked a ship carrying weapons for the Ukrainian military east of Odessa. 5. The Ukrainian military states that Ukrainian troops attacked the Ilsky and Sizlan oil refineries in Russia, causing the fire. Other Updates: 1. US Officials: Ukraine agrees to avoid attacks on non-Russian oil tankers and Black Sea oil facilities. 2. New Zealand imposes new sanctions on Russia following US actions. 3. Zelensky: The US will provide Ukraine with Patriot interceptor missiles monthly. 4. Ukrainian President Zelensky expresses gratitude for the US Senate's passage of the Russian sanctions bill. 5. Zelensky visits Serbia as Russia's influence weakens. 6. Sources: Musk refused to allow Ukraine to use Starlink to strike targets within Russia. 7. A Ukrainian drone violated Bulgarian airspace and exploded, endangering key energy facilities. Bulgaria has summoned the Ukrainian ambassador regarding the incident. 8. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: Ukraine has no intention of launching any equipment towards Bulgaria.

On August 9th, a support document titled "Using ChatGPT with Apple Smart on Mac" appeared on Apple's official Mac Simplified Chinese user manual on August 8th. It explicitly mentioned that Apple Smart could work with Alibaba's Qianwen model. However, this Chinese manual introducing Qianwen extensions has since been removed from Apple's website. The relevant page in the Apple Mac user manual has now reverted to "Using ChatGPT with Apple Smart," whereas previously it displayed "Using Qianwen with Apple Smart."

August 9th - Dong Lijuan, Chief Statistician of the Urban Division of the National Bureau of Statistics, stated that the national CPI rose 0.5% year-on-year, maintaining a moderate increase. The year-on-year CPI increase was 0.5 percentage points lower than the previous month, mainly due to the slower increase in gasoline prices. Gasoline prices rose 1.0%, a decrease of 16.0 percentage points from the previous month, reducing its upward impact on the CPI by approximately 0.45 percentage points, thus driving the energy price increase down to 0.6%. Excluding energy, industrial consumer goods prices rose 1.5%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the previous month, contributing approximately 0.37 percentage points to the year-on-year CPI increase. Among these, prices for gold jewelry, personal care products, and household appliances rose by 24.6%, 1.7%, and 0.2% respectively, all with slower increases, contributing a combined approximately 0.13 percentage points to the year-on-year CPI increase; while prices for computers, tablets, and mobile phones rose by 17.4%, 17.2%, and 8.5% respectively.

August 9th - Dong Lijuan, Chief Statistician of the Urban Division of the National Bureau of Statistics, stated that on a month-on-month basis, the national CPI decreased by 0.1%, a narrowing of 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous month. Fluctuations in international market prices led to a 10.7% decrease in domestic gasoline prices, a larger decline than the previous month's 5.8 percentage points, contributing to a month-on-month decrease in CPI of approximately 0.35 percentage points. Artificial intelligence is driving the upgrading of consumer electronics products, increasing demand and prices for related products. Tablet computers, computers, and mobile phones saw price increases of 11.3%, 5.5%, and 1.0% respectively, contributing a combined 0.03 percentage point to the month-on-month CPI increase. In the services sector, increased summer travel demand led to price increases of 7.2%, 6.5%, 4.2%, and 3.6% for travel agency fees, hotel accommodations, airfares, and transportation rentals respectively, contributing a combined 0.10 percentage point to the month-on-month CPI increase.

On August 9th, regarding Friday's unexpectedly negative US non-farm payroll data, Rick Reid, Chief Investment Officer of BlackRock's Global Fixed Income division, stated that last month's weaker-than-expected employment data reflects the "productivity revolution" of the artificial intelligence era. He believes the decline in non-farm payrolls reflects that US companies are learning how to expand output without increasing the number of employees. He said, "I don't think adjusting the overnight federal funds rate will really solve the problem—we've seen this before… I just think that raising rates now doesn't make much sense."

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stated that the United States and Israel have completely failed in achieving their goals against the Islamic regime, and their leaders have shown no response to their repeated failures in the face of public opinion, elites, and their own people.

According to Iran's Fars News Agency, Bulgaria claims that a Ukrainian drone attacked the Trans-Balkan Gas Pipeline this morning, which carries Russian gas to Europe via Türkiye.

August 9th - Analysts point out that the market generally expects the US CPI to rise 0.1% month-on-month in July, after a 0.4% decline in June. The core CPI, excluding fuel and food, is expected to rise 0.2% month-on-month and 2.5% year-on-year, the smallest year-on-year increase since February. The slowdown in inflation may help alleviate inflationary anxieties within the Federal Reserve following Friday's weak July non-farm payroll report. Previously, at the July 29th meeting, three officials voted to raise interest rates. The CPI report is likely to show that energy-related price pressures have eased, pressures that intensified sharply in the months following the start of the US-Iran conflict in late February. Retail gasoline prices fell to their lowest point in nearly four months in early July before rebounding to above $4 per gallon by the end of the month. The report may also show that airfares have declined as jet fuel costs have stabilized.

On August 9th, local time, the U.S. Central Command stated that on August 8th, U.S. Navy personnel were performing maintenance on F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to ensure the carrier strike group's equipment remained operational and to continue strictly enforcing the naval blockade against Iran. As of that day, the U.S. military had diverted 53 merchant ships, rendered two ships inoperable, and boarded and inspected two other vessels. In addition, the U.S. military allowed more than 30 ships carrying humanitarian aid to pass through the blockade zone.

On August 9th, US Vice President Vance stated on the 8th that the US and Iran are in dialogue, and the US-Iran conflict remains in the "middle of the game." In an interview with Fox News that day, Vance said the US-Iran conflict is not over, "but it's clearly no longer in the initial stages, but has entered the middle stages." He stated that the US is using a combination of diplomatic, economic, and military means to ensure the best possible outcome. Vance said the US's current primary focus is "to maximize the amount of oil and gas transported through the Strait of Hormuz," and the US is observing whether Iran is willing to make the necessary long-term changes to establish a better relationship with the US. If Iran is unwilling, the US will continue to exert pressure. Vance also said the US is trying to establish a navigation mechanism to ensure the safe passage of ships. This includes mine-clearing operations, and "also requires a commitment from Iran to guarantee that it will not fire on merchant ships."

The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 4.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the Kermadec Islands at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Saudi Arabia reiterated its firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government.

On August 9th, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tishi stated on the 8th that Ukraine is maintaining close contact with Bulgaria to ascertain the specific circumstances surrounding the drone crash in Bulgaria that day. He emphasized that the Ukrainian military did not intentionally launch any equipment towards Bulgaria. Tishi said that Ukraine is verifying all the circumstances and relevant technical facts of the incident and is willing to cooperate with Bulgaria to ascertain the details.

Yemeni government armed forces: Houthi rebels again used ballistic missiles to attack Marib and its surrounding areas and refugee camps.