ZHONGTAI SECURITIES·2025-10-12 12:46Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the banking sector [1]. Core Insights - The scale of insurance capital investment is steadily increasing, with a significant rise in stock investment proportion, which has outpaced bond growth [3][4]. - Bank stocks have consistently held the largest share in insurance capital's heavy stock holdings, with a notable recovery in their proportion post-2023, reaching 41.9% of total stock purchases in 2025 [3][4]. - Current policies are promoting long-term capital market entry, with adjustments in insurance company assessment mechanisms to enhance equity investment ratios, a strategy validated by experiences in the US and Japan [3][4]. Summary by Sections Insurance Capital Investment: Steady Growth and Increased Stock Proportion - As of 1H25, the total insurance capital investment balance in China reached 36.2 trillion yuan, marking a year-on-year growth of 17.4%, with life insurance companies accounting for 90% of this balance [6][8]. - Stock investment growth has outpaced bond investment, with stock investment proportion rising to 8.8% in 1H25, reflecting a significant increase compared to previous years [10][12]. - The decline in long-term interest rates has been a crucial factor driving insurance companies to increase stock investments, as they seek to mitigate risks associated with interest rate spreads [24][26]. Increased Proportion of Bank Stocks in Insurance Capital Holdings - Bank stocks have maintained the highest proportion in the heavy stock holdings of insurance capital, accounting for 47.2% in 1H25, significantly higher than other sectors [29][30]. - The number of stock purchases (or "takeovers") in the banking sector surged in 2025, with bank stocks representing 41.9% of total purchases, a marked increase from previous years [29][30]. Policy Support for Increased Equity Investment by Insurance Capital - Recent policies have been implemented to facilitate the entry of long-term capital into the market, with a focus on enhancing the willingness of insurance companies to invest in equities [31][32]. - The experiences of the US and Japan demonstrate that increasing equity investment during periods of declining long-term interest rates is a viable strategy for maintaining the health of insurance companies [33][37]. Projected New Insurance Investment Funds - It is anticipated that new insurance investment funds will exceed 4 trillion yuan in both 2025 and 2026, with stock investment proportions expected to rise to 9.3% and 10.9%, respectively [41][42]. Investment Recommendations - In the current policy and macroeconomic environment, it is recommended to focus on bank stocks, particularly those with regional advantages and high dividend yields, as insurance capital is likely to increase its holdings in this sector [48].