新发国债等债券利息收入恢复征收增值税 将对险资大类资产配置影响几何？

Core Viewpoint - The reintroduction of value-added tax (VAT) on interest income from newly issued government bonds, local government bonds, and financial bonds is expected to have a minimal impact on insurance companies' net profits, estimated at around 1% in the short term, while encouraging a shift towards high-dividend assets and older bonds for hedging purposes [1][3][4]. Summary by Sections Impact of VAT Reintroduction - The Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration announced on August 1 that VAT will be reinstated on interest income from newly issued bonds starting August 8, while previously issued bonds will remain exempt until maturity [2]. - Insurance companies have significantly increased their bond allocations, with bond investments reaching approximately 16.97 trillion yuan, accounting for about 48.58% of total investment [2]. Quantitative Analysis - Research from Huayuan Securities indicates that the short-term impact on insurance companies' net profits from the VAT policy is around 1%, with potential for increased impact as the allocation to new bonds rises over time [3]. - Guojin Securities estimates the impact on the net profits of the five major listed insurance companies for 2024 to be between 0.26% and 1.77%, indicating a generally minor effect [3]. Asset Allocation Trends - Despite the slight decrease in actual interest income, bonds will maintain their status as the "ballast" in insurance asset allocation, although there may be a marginal increase in equity asset allocation to enhance overall investment returns [4][5]. - As of the end of the first quarter, insurance funds have continued to increase their bond allocations, with a notable rise in the proportion of bond investments compared to the end of the previous year [4]. Future Outlook - Analysts suggest that insurance funds will likely accelerate their allocation to long-duration bonds to lock in tax-exempt returns, while the scarcity of these bonds may lead to a premium, resulting in lower long-term bond yields and increased fair value [4]. - Insurance companies are expected to increase their holdings in high-dividend stocks and growth stocks to mitigate the pressure from the VAT reintroduction and declining long-term interest rates, aiming for better long-term returns [6].