Orient Securities·2025-05-21 01:13Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook for the banking industry, indicating a relative strength compared to the market benchmark index [6][7]. Core Insights - The banking sector is expected to benefit from a period of intensive policy implementation aimed at stabilizing growth, with monetary easing leading the way, followed by fiscal measures. This is anticipated to have a profound impact on the banking fundamentals in 2025 [2]. - The downward adjustment of deposit rates is expected to protect the banks' net interest margins, while the risk of deposit disintermediation is likely to be moderate [6]. - 2025 is projected to be a year of solidifying asset quality for banks, with improved risk expectations in real estate and urban investment properties underpinned by supportive policies [2]. Summary by Sections Investment Recommendations and Targets - Focus on two main investment lines: 1. High dividend and core index weight banks such as Agricultural Bank of China (601288), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (601398), China Merchants Bank (600036), and Industrial Bank (601166) [7]. 2. City commercial banks with strong fundamentals and regional advantages, including Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank (601077), Chongqing Bank (601963), Jiangsu Bank (600919), Qingdao Bank (002948), and Shanghai Bank (601229) [7]. Interest Rate Adjustments - On May 20, 2025, the 1-year and 5-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) was lowered by 10 basis points, and state-owned banks announced reductions in deposit rates across various terms [6]. - The first round of interest rate cuts in 2025 is expected to have a neutral impact on banks' net interest margins, with an estimated increase of 3.1 basis points for listed banks in 2025 due to the deposit rate adjustments [6][14]. Deposit Rate Trends - The report highlights a trend of decreasing deposit rates, with significant reductions observed since October 2024, particularly among smaller banks, which have been more aggressive in their rate cuts compared to larger banks [9][14]. - The overall decline in deposit rates is expected to lead to a more favorable structure for new deposits, thereby supporting banks' funding costs [6]. Asset Quality and Risk Management - The report anticipates a significant improvement in asset quality for banks in 2025, driven by policy support and better management of risks in key sectors such as real estate [2]. - The net interest margin for commercial banks was reported at 1.43% in Q1 2025, reflecting a smaller decline compared to previous years, indicating a potential stabilization in margins moving forward [6].