Iran unrest impacts gold, silver, oil; China seeks space resources with satellite applications.

Iranian Unrest Fuels Rise in Gold, Silver, and Oil Prices

Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that U.S. officials have stated that Trump is set to receive a briefing on options to respond to the protests in Iran, suggesting he may consider following through on threats to penalize the regime for its crackdown on demonstrators.

Oil Prices Surge

Oil prices have risen for the third consecutive day as protests in Iran escalate, threatening supply from the fourth-largest OPEC oil producer. Brent crude futures have surged nearly 6% over the past two days, reaching around $64 per barrel, while WTI crude futures approach $60 per barrel.

Precious Metals Performance

• Silver prices have increased by over 2%, currently at $81.73 per ounce.
• Gold has surpassed $4530 per ounce, with a daily increase of 0.56%.
• Spot platinum and palladium have risen by more than 3% and 1.5%, respectively.

U.S. Economic Outlook

Employment Data and Fed Policy

The "New Fed Communications" report indicates that the unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in December, alleviating some concerns about the labor market. This has led traders to expect that the likelihood of a rate cut in January is minimal, with the first cut anticipated in June.

Market Strategies

Bank of America’s Hartnett suggests that the Trump administration is focused on lowering inflation and interest rates ahead of the midterm elections, prompting investors to adopt a strategy of "long boom" and "short bubble."

Supreme Court and Trade Policies

The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to announce its decision regarding Trump's tariffs, with a ruling expected on January 14.

National Business Conference Highlights

The National Business Conference held on January 10-11 emphasized the need to boost consumer spending and develop new growth points in service consumption.

Changes in Export Tax Policies

Starting April 1, 2026, the export tax rebate for photovoltaic products will be canceled, and the rebate rate for battery products will be reduced from 9% to 6%.

Credit Card Rate Cap Proposal

Trump has proposed a 10% cap on credit card interest rates starting January 20, 2026, aimed at protecting consumers, though it faces legal challenges.

Space Resource Competition

China has applied for over 200,000 satellite frequency resources, while SpaceX plans to deploy an additional 7,500 Starlink satellites, reshaping the space industry landscape.

Upcoming AI Developments

DeepSeek is set to release its next-generation AI model, V4, in February, which is expected to significantly impact the AI competitive landscape.

Stock Market Highlights

The U.S. stock market saw all three major indices close at record highs, driven by gains in Intel and other chip manufacturers.

Notable Stock Movements

• Intel's stock surged over 10% following a meeting with Trump.
• Walmart will be added to the Nasdaq 100 index on January 20.

Hong Kong Market Activity

On January 9, net purchases of Hong Kong stocks reached HKD 6.815 billion, with significant investments in Tencent and sales of Alibaba shares.

Company Announcements

• Xiansheng Pharmaceutical plans to spin off its subsidiary for independent listing.
• Jin Feng Technology's shareholder plans to reduce its stake by up to 10.36 million shares.

This summary encapsulates the key financial and economic developments as of January 2026.