国泰海通证券研究·2025-12-26 09:43Core Viewpoint - The impact of duration volatility on perpetual bonds may outweigh tail credit issues, indicating a need for careful monitoring of market dynamics and credit conditions in the banking sector [1][2]. Group 1: Market Overview - In 2025, the issuance of bank subordinated bonds remained stable, with a marginal increase in net issuance, although there was structural differentiation, particularly a year-on-year decline of 205 billion in net issuance from joint-stock banks, which is the main reason for the contraction in secondary capital bonds [1][2]. - The spread of bank perpetual bonds in the secondary market transitioned from convergence to differentiation, with high-rated short-duration bonds seeing a decline in spreads as funding costs stabilized, while low-rated long-duration bonds faced upward spread volatility due to market fluctuations [1][2]. Group 2: Key Changes in the Market - The net issuance trend reflects a divergence in bank balance sheet expansion and contraction, with joint-stock and rural commercial banks showing a significant slowdown in expansion, while city commercial banks still have a certain demand for expansion despite relatively low capital adequacy ratios, leading to a trend of increasing net issuance of subordinated bonds [2]. - The instability on the configuration side has resulted in insufficient resilience of long-duration subordinated bonds, with a notable overreaction in valuations since Q4 2025, partly due to the impact of new interest value-added tax regulations and concerns over the high elasticity of perpetual bonds and redemption regulations [2]. - Tail risks are evolving, with potential shifts from credit risk exposure accumulated during earlier expansions to insufficient core capital due to new loans/credit bonds in a contracting environment, which may weaken expectations for future issuance of perpetual bonds, leading to two choices: not redeeming or redeeming without reissuing, with the latter being more likely [2]. Group 3: 2026 Market and Strategy Outlook - For 2026, the issuance from large state-owned banks is expected to remain stable at around 900 billion, with an additional 250 billion in TLAC bonds, while small and medium-sized banks are projected to issue between 600 billion to 700 billion in subordinated bonds [3]. - Investment strategies for 2026 should focus on the stability of the liability side and the redemption aspect of credit, with limited spread space for short-duration bonds and sufficient spread for long-duration bonds, although instability on the liability side may continue to disrupt the market [3]. - The current high spreads of bonds provide a favorable configuration cost-performance ratio, but in a challenging market environment, the need for precise timing and wave management in trading will increase, with investment opportunities likely arising from adjustments following market sentiment shocks [3].