专辑|低波债市投资的破局之道

Core Viewpoint - The bond market in 2025 is characterized by low volatility, which limits the profit potential of traditional trend-following strategies. Quantitative and neutral trading strategies are proposed as effective methods to enhance returns in this low-volatility environment [1][2]. Summary by Sections Current Market Conditions - As of early 2025, China's bond market is experiencing low yields and low volatility, prompting investment institutions to rethink their strategies to navigate this challenging environment [2][6]. - The bond market's volatility has significantly decreased, reaching levels below the 10th percentile since April 2025, influenced by factors such as U.S. tariffs and domestic liquidity conditions [2][6]. Causes of Low Volatility - The low volatility in the bond market is attributed to several factors: 1. Liquidity Constraints: The central bank's policies have maintained reasonable liquidity, keeping overnight repo rates around 1.4%, which has limited further declines in bond yields [6][7]. 2. Economic Expectations: Weak economic indicators and uncertainties surrounding U.S.-China trade relations have constrained the upward movement of bond yields, with the 10-year government bond yield mostly staying below 1.75% [6][7]. 3. Supply and Demand Dynamics: Increased government bond issuance has not significantly impacted the market due to ongoing liquidity support from the central bank [7]. 4. Arbitrage Strategies: The widespread use of neutral arbitrage strategies by investment institutions has helped stabilize the market and reduce irrational volatility [7]. Investment Strategies in Low Volatility Market - In response to the low volatility environment, two main strategies are recommended: 1. Quantitative Strategies: These strategies utilize historical data and mathematical models to identify trading opportunities. A volatility factor model has been developed, demonstrating predictive capabilities and profitability in low-volatility conditions [9][10][17]. 2. Neutral Strategies: These involve constructing both long and short positions to hedge market risks and capture stable returns. The application of classic neutral trading strategies, such as basis trading, term spread trading, and new/old bond spread trading, has shown potential for excess returns [17][18]. Performance of Quantitative Strategies - A quantitative strategy based on a volatility factor was tested, yielding a cumulative return of 26.17 basis points with a win rate of 62.33%, outperforming traditional single-direction strategies [14][22]. - The strategy's performance highlighted areas for improvement, such as enhancing sensitivity to directional signals and optimizing threshold parameters for better risk management [15][16]. Performance of Neutral Strategies - Classic neutral strategies have been effectively employed to exploit market inefficiencies, with examples demonstrating successful basis trading, term spread trading, and new/old bond spread trading [18][19][20][21]. - These strategies have proven to enhance absolute returns and improve the return on assets (ROA) in a low-volatility market [22]. Future Outlook - The bond market's low volatility phase is seen as a transitional period that necessitates a restructuring of investment strategies. The integration of quantitative and neutral strategies is emphasized as crucial for adapting to the new market norm [23]. - Investment institutions are encouraged to enhance their research capabilities and technological integration to better navigate the evolving market landscape [23].