Jing Ji Guan Cha Wang·2025-07-23 06:46Core Viewpoint - The insurance sector is increasingly active in the capital markets, with a notable rise in shareholding stakes in listed companies, indicating a strategic shift towards long-term equity investments driven by low interest rates and regulatory support [2][7][11]. Group 1: Shareholding Activities - In 2025, insurance companies triggered 21 shareholding events, surpassing the total for the previous year, with notable participation from companies like China Life, Postal Insurance, and Xinhua Life [3][4]. - Postal Insurance acquired 726,000 shares of Green Power Environmental, raising its stake to 5.0722%, and previously triggered a shareholding event in April by acquiring 79.42 million shares of Eastern Airlines Logistics [4][5]. - Xintai Life and Lian Life also reported shareholding increases in July, with Xintai Life raising its stake in Hualing Steel to 5.00% and Lian Life increasing its stake in Jiangnan Water to 5.03% [5]. Group 2: Investment Trends - The average dividend yield of companies targeted for shareholding by insurance funds has reached 4.6%, the highest in recent years, reflecting a preference for high-dividend stocks in sectors like banking and utilities [7][8]. - The shift towards long-term equity investments is partly due to the mismatch in asset and liability durations, with insurance liabilities averaging over 12 years compared to asset durations of about 6 years [9]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - Recent regulatory changes encourage insurance funds to engage in long-term equity investments, with new assessment criteria introduced that emphasize long-term performance metrics [11]. - The new accounting standards allow for more stable valuation of long-term equity investments, motivating insurance companies to increase their holdings in high-dividend stocks [10].