Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the news highlights a positive performance in the Hong Kong banking sector, with several banks experiencing significant stock price increases, particularly Agricultural Bank of China, which rose over 3% [1] - As of July 31, five A-share listed rural commercial banks, including Qingdao Bank and Ningbo Bank, reported positive growth in both operating income and net profit attributable to shareholders for the first half of the year, indicating stable asset quality [1] - According to a report by Zhongtai Securities, the overall asset quality of listed banks remains stable, and the industry's profit-generating capacity from provisioning is still strong, with expectations for continued positive profit growth in the sector [1] Group 2 - The net interest margin is supported by a decrease in funding costs and a larger reduction in deposit rates compared to loan rates this year, with a forecast that the decline in net interest margin for the entire year will be significantly smaller than in 2024 [1] - The recovery in scale expansion speed under a low base in the mid-year report will also support interest income [1]