Huachuang Securities·2025-07-06 12:16Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" investment rating for the banking sector, expecting the sector index to outperform the benchmark index by more than 5% in the next 3-6 months [24]. Core Insights - The report highlights the recent revisions to the CIPS (Cross-border Interbank Payment System) rules, which aim to enhance the management of participants and adapt to the growing cross-border e-commerce trade, projected to reach approximately 2.71 trillion yuan in 2024, a 14% year-on-year increase [3][4]. - The CIPS system processed 8.2169 million transactions amounting to 175.49 trillion yuan in 2024, reflecting a significant year-on-year growth of 42.60% [3]. - The report emphasizes the flexibility introduced in the new CIPS rules, allowing financial market infrastructure participants to open CIPS accounts based on business needs rather than strict management requirements [4]. Summary by Sections CIPS Overview - CIPS is a clearing system for cross-border payments in RMB, distinct from SWIFT's messaging system, and has seen a substantial increase in participation, with 174 direct participants and 1,509 indirect participants across 120 countries [2][3]. Recent Developments - The new rules include relaxed entry conditions for system participants, allowing for a more flexible approach to participant management [4]. - The rules specify that foreign direct participants must select domestic direct participants as fund custodians, as foreign banks lack CNAPS accounts [4]. Risk Management Enhancements - The updated regulations detail business processing and risk management requirements, mandating that participants establish robust risk management frameworks and adhere to international anti-money laundering standards [4]. Market Performance - The banking sector index rose by 3.77% during the reporting period, outperforming the CSI 300 index by 2.23 percentage points [8]. - The report suggests a focus on banks with high dividend yields and strong asset quality, recommending major state-owned banks and select regional banks for investment [9]. Company Forecasts - Key banks such as Ningbo Bank, Jiangsu Bank, and China Merchants Bank are highlighted with positive earnings forecasts and investment ratings, indicating strong potential for returns [10].