Chapter 526: The Invitation from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce

In the afternoon, Xia Yu didn't dwell on the events of the day and continued to enjoy the outing with Li Xi in good spirits.

That night, an emotionally charged Li Xi and Xia Yu had a series of indescribable events until Li Xi, exhausted, was left limp as a rag. Only then did Xia Yu stop.

The next day, Xia Yu first visited Guangming Fund for an inspection and then went to Yinhe Fund to understand the relevant work situations. The employees of both major companies were competent and did not require much of Xia Yu's attention.

Therefore, Xia Yu decided to visit Hua Shang Bank to share a bit of his warmth and light.

Upon seeing Xia Yu's arrival, Wu Hongyi greeted him with a smile and looked him up and down, as if wanting to get to know him anew.

Xia Yu was puzzled, looked at himself, and saw nothing unusual.

Xia Yu asked in confusion, "Hongyi, what's with that expression? Is there something strange about me?"

Wu Hongyi clicked his tongue and said admiringly, "Nothing strange at all. I'm just very impressed. I know about Old Hua's matter. I didn't expect that, in such a short time, you would actually have Old Hua help you out, swallowing up the entire Treasure Pavilion. Impressive!"

Xia Yu shrugged and smiled, "I was just planning to collect a large number of antiques. Unfortunately, I don't know much about them. Since Old Hua's ambitions align with my plans, it worked out perfectly!"

"I didn't expect you to know so soon. I was just about to tell you!"

"Haha, Treasure Pavilion hasn't sold antiques to the public for decades. Now, suddenly, everything has changed. Many people are curious, but Old Hua only said it was bought by someone, without revealing who. However, when I asked him, he told me. I was stunned when I heard the news."

Wu Hongyi was filled with admiration for Xia Yu's grand gesture. It was truly worthy of someone known as the 'Stock God.' Only with the financial market as an ATM could one spend money so freely.

"Haha..."

Xia Yu laughed and chatted with Wu Hongyi for a while.

"By the way, Xia Yu, your advice to buy gold was spot on. Today's gold price has reached $328.5 per ounce. I just calculated it before you arrived, and the bank's floating profit has already reached $35.43 million. The profit is astonishing!"

Wu Hongyi suddenly said excitedly.

Because he trusted Xia Yu's analysis, he had invested all the idle funds above the bank's safety line into the London gold market. Ever since gold prices began to soar, he had no end of reasons to be grateful.

If the operations had been normal, the profit earned in a year would not be much more than now.

"Hongyi, this is just the beginning. Don't be too happy too soon; there's more room for growth!"

Xia Yu said with a faint smile, not feeling particularly excited about the $30 million in profit.

It was only a floating profit of over $30 million, and he held only a 15% stake. Even if this profit were distributed to shareholders, it would only amount to a few million dollars.

A few million dollars in his floating profit was not enough to sway him. How could it move his heartstrings?

Of course, this didn't need to be discussed with Wu Hongyi.

"More room for growth?"

"Xia Yu, what do you think is the upper limit of gold prices?"

Upon hearing Xia Yu's words, Wu Hongyi's spirit was lifted, and he looked at Xia Yu with intense interest.

Xia Yu casually replied, "I've analyzed it specifically. It's hard to be sure if it goes too high, but an increase to $700 or $800 per ounce within a year should be possible!"

"$700 or $800 per ounce?!"

"Wow..."

Hearing this figure, Wu Hongyi gasped, taking a deep breath and then frowning in thought, muttering to himself.

Seeing this, Xia Yu smiled and didn't worry about what he was thinking, instead, he brewed tea for himself.

Xia Yu was very clear about the situation of international gold prices.

The gold bull market began in 1968 and continued until January 21, 1980, rising wildly from $35 per ounce to $850 per ounce. The crazily rising gold prices put unprecedented pressure on the US dollar and immense pressure on the United States.

In the end, President Carter had to take a strong stand to suppress gold prices, stating that he would do everything possible to maintain the United States' position in the world. This caused international gold prices to drop from $850 to $800 per ounce at the close of the day, and by February, it fell to over $600 per ounce.

The 12-year gold bull market saw its most frenzied period from December 1978 to January 1980.

This process can be divided into two phases.

The first phase was from the end of December 1978 to March 4, 1979, when gold prices surged dramatically, rising from $244 to $500 per ounce in just over three months, averaging an increase of about $80 per month.

The second phase was from March 5, 1979, to January 21, 1980, during which gold prices rose from $500 to $850 per ounce, averaging more than $30 per month.

Xia Yu planned to withdraw all funds after March 1979 and then use a small portion of the funds with several times or even a hundred times leverage to trade gold. The remaining funds would be used for investment or acquisitions, etc.

He did not need to use only a five-fold leverage like now.

With substantial capital, he would no longer need to be so cautious.

Holding a huge amount of liquid funds, he could at least secure himself. Even if large leverage was discovered, what could be done?

He couldn't be controlled by them anymore!

From now on, the ocean is vast enough for fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for birds to fly!

Using capital to acquire other super potential companies that could appreciate dozens or even hundreds of times!

The returns wouldn't be worse than trading gold!

Grasping both hands firmly, achieving equally solid results!

While Xia Yu was drinking tea on his own, Wu Hongyi, not knowing what he was thinking, hurried to his desk, took out a pen and paper, and quickly wrote something for about ten minutes. He was finally satisfied and carefully put it away in a drawer.

After placing it, Wu Hongyi took out a very exquisite invitation from another drawer, came to the tea table, and handed it to Xia Yu.

"Xia Yu, in half a month, the British Chinese Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual gala. This is the invitation. Please accept it!"

Xia Yu raised an eyebrow, took the invitation, and opened it to browse. It contained the usual invitation details, specifying the location at the Marriott Hotel on Canary Wharf, London, and the date as January 25, 1979.

Xia Yu solemnly closed the invitation and nodded, "I will definitely attend!"

After a moment of contemplation, Xia Yu asked Wu Hongyi, "Who is in charge of organizing the Chinese Chamber of Commerce? Who is the president?"

Wu Hongyi smiled, "Generally, it's organized by our Wu family. The president is my grandfather, but he has been in poor health, so the power has gradually been transferred to the board of directors."

This answer made Xia Yu's eyes light up with admiration, "I didn't expect it to be your Wu family. Indeed, your Wu family's strength is the strongest among the Chinese."

Wu Hongyi modestly smiled.

Xia Yu no longer dwelled on this point and asked, "Hongyi, who are the important figures expected to attend?"