HK Stock Market Move | Gold stocks collectively declined, the minutes of the Federal Reserve show that internal discussions are considering the possibility of raising interest rates, and there are still uncertainties in the US-Iran negotiations.

Gold stocks collectively decreased, as of press time, EVEREST GOLD (01815) fell by 4.67% to HK$1.02; Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining (06693) fell by 3.66% to HK$43.66; Shandong Gold Mining (01787) fell by 3.05% to HK$35.02; CHINAGOLDINTL (02099) fell by 2.24% to HK$170.3. On the news side, early on April 9, spot gold once fell below $4700, reaching as low as $4698.05. On Wednesday local time, the Federal Reserve released the minutes of the FOMC meeting on March 17-18, showing that policymakers had intense discussions on the starkly different paths the U.S. economy could take after an outbreak of war with Iran and the potential policy responses it could trigger. Most officials are concerned that a prolonged war could impact the labor market, leading to a possible rate cut. At the same time, many policymakers emphasized the upward risks facing inflation, which could ultimately necessitate rate hikes. It is worth noting that there are still uncertainties in the U.S.-Iran talks, as both Trump and Israel have stated that the two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon. The Israeli military also carried out its largest air strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon since the start of this round of conflicts. Iranian sources have indicated that if Lebanon continues to be attacked, Iran will consider withdrawing from the ceasefire agreement and is currently finalizing plans for "deterrent actions" against Israeli military targets. According to CCTV news, the Strait of Hormuz has once again been closed.