21世纪经济报道·2025-09-17 04:18Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing speculation regarding the potential merger between Guoyuan Securities and Huazhong Securities, both of which are controlled by the Anhui Provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, highlighting their historical ties and competitive dynamics in the market [1][4]. Group 1: Background and Historical Context - Guoyuan Securities was established in 2001, while Huazhong Securities has a history dating back to 1991, making it ten years older [9]. - Guoyuan Securities became the first listed securities firm in Anhui Province in 2007, while Huazhong Securities went public in 2016, nine years later [9]. - The merger rumors have persisted for over a decade, with initial speculation arising as early as 2007 when Guoyuan Securities was listed [7][9]. Group 2: Recent Developments - On September 15, Huazhong Securities addressed the merger rumors during an earnings briefing, emphasizing a focus on "internal development" while also seeking "external expansion opportunities," which has fueled market speculation [1][4]. - The response from Huazhong Securities did not confirm or deny the merger but indicated a standard operational approach to handling such rumors [2][5]. Group 3: Market Trends and Comparisons - The article notes that the trend of mergers among securities firms is increasing, with several mergers already occurring in 2023, such as Guotai Junan and Guolian Minsheng [1][4]. - In terms of performance, Guoyuan Securities has historically led in revenue rankings, but Huazhong Securities has shown rapid growth, moving from 43rd place in 2021 to 28th in the first half of 2024, narrowing the gap with Guoyuan Securities [10][11].