Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: China Financials - **Industry View**: Attractive [5] Regulatory Developments - **Regulatory Notice**: On February 6, 2026, financial regulators issued a notice aimed at preventing cryptocurrency-related risks, renewing a similar notice from 2021. This notice explicitly bans the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) onshore unless pre-approved by regulators and built on specific financial infrastructure [8] - **Stablecoin Licensing in Hong Kong**: The development of stablecoins in Hong Kong is expected to proceed independently. Mainland companies must obtain onshore regulatory approval to participate in stablecoin issuance in Hong Kong, as the notice prohibits them from issuing cryptocurrencies overseas without such approval [2] Company-Specific Insights - **Futu Holdings**: The company is already blocking any crypto-related offerings and market information access to mainland clients. Future offerings may focus more on overseas assets due to regulatory complexities surrounding onshore asset-linked RWAs [3] Market Controls - **Implementation of Controls**: A comprehensive set of controls will be established, covering market entity registration, advertising, financial services, and technology services to mitigate crypto-related risks [8] Analyst Insights - **Analyst Certification**: Analysts have certified that their views on the companies discussed are accurately expressed and that they have not received compensation for specific recommendations [13] - **Investment Banking Relationships**: Morgan Stanley has received compensation for investment banking services from various companies in the financial sector, including Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China [16][18] Stock Ratings Overview - **Stock Ratings Distribution**: As of January 31, 2026, the distribution of stock ratings includes: - Overweight/Buy: 41% - Equal-weight/Hold: 43% - Underweight/Sell: 16% [28] Important Disclosures - **Conflict of Interest**: Investors should be aware of potential conflicts of interest that may affect the objectivity of Morgan Stanley Research [6] - **Research Methodology**: The research is based on public information, and while efforts are made to ensure accuracy, no guarantees are provided [45] Conclusion - The regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies in China is tightening, with significant implications for companies involved in crypto and stablecoin activities. Futu Holdings appears well-positioned given its current compliance measures. The overall outlook for the China financial sector remains attractive, with ongoing monitoring of regulatory developments essential for investment decisions.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **China Brokers** industry within the **Asia Pacific** financial sector, specifically analyzing the implications of recent regulatory changes on margin ratios and market dynamics [1][6]. Core Insights - **Margin Ratio Increase**: On January 14, 2026, the Shanghai and Shenzhen Exchanges raised the minimum margin ratio from 80% to 100%, effectively capping leverage at 1x compared to the previous 1.25x. This regulatory change is seen as a proactive measure to sustain a slow bull market [8][3]. - **Average Daily Trading (ADT)**: The report anticipates a full-year expectation of Rmb1.77 trillion in ADT, representing a 4.9% year-over-year increase. This growth is attributed to strong household financial asset growth, inflows to institutional investors, and positive market sentiment [3][2]. - **Market Liquidity**: The impact on market liquidity is expected to be limited, as margin finance as a percentage of market capitalization stands at approximately 2.3%, significantly lower than the peak of 3.8% in 2015 [8][9]. - **Securities Lending Business**: The potential relaxation of the effective short sell ban, which has been in place since July 2024, could benefit leading institutional brokers by enhancing the securities lending business [4]. Additional Important Points - **Regulatory Signals**: Regulators have indicated that the higher margin ratio will only apply to new business, not existing positions, which is intended to mitigate immediate market disruptions [8]. - **Market Sentiment**: The report suggests that a slow bull market could create a positive feedback loop between primary and secondary markets, supporting an increase in return on equity (ROE) for brokers [3]. - **Current Market Conditions**: The ADT recently reached a record high of Rmb3.6 trillion, indicating robust trading activity despite the regulatory changes [8]. Conclusion - The overall outlook for the broker business in China remains constructive, with expectations of increased fundraising volume and institutional trading flows, supported by the recent regulatory adjustments and positive market conditions [3][6].

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Chinese Securities and Financial Services - **Key Focus**: A-share and H-share markets, IPO activity, margin financing, and M&A speculation Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Trading Activity Recovery**: A-share average daily trading (ADT) increased from Rmb1.2 trillion in January to Rmb1.8 trillion in February, representing a 53% month-over-month increase and a 92% year-over-year increase [2][13][23] 2. **IPO Trends**: February saw only one A-share IPO, marking the lowest level in nine years with a total raised amount of Rmb0.1 billion. In contrast, HK IPO flows rebounded approximately 90% year-over-year in FY24, supported by regulatory tailwinds [2][10][40] 3. **Margin Financing Growth**: The outstanding margin financing balance reached Rmb1.90 trillion in February, up 7% month-over-month and 28% year-over-year, indicating a recovery in investor sentiment [2][13][32] 4. **M&A Speculation**: Reports of a potential merger between CICC and Galaxy Securities led to share price outperformance for both companies, despite their denial of the merger rumors [2][6][10][16] 5. **Long-term Fund Inflows**: The market value of A-shares held by medium- and long-term funds increased from Rmb14.6 trillion to Rmb17.8 trillion since September 2024, a growth of 22% [2][9] 6. **Support for Technology Enterprises**: The PBOC and CSRC announced measures to support technology firms, including the establishment of a "Technology Board" for bond markets and expanded refinancing programs [2][11][18] Additional Important Insights 1. **Broker Performance**: Brokers' share prices declined by an average of 4% for A/H listings in February, underperforming major indices, but CICC and Galaxy saw significant increases due to M&A speculation [2][10][12] 2. **Investment Banking Decline**: The investment banking sector experienced a decline in equity refinancing and IPO activity, while bond underwriting flows increased by 30% month-over-month [2][14][52] 3. **Regulatory Environment**: The CSRC is focused on enhancing the capital market's role in supporting new industrialization and improving the inclusiveness and adaptability of the capital market system [2][18] 4. **Market Sentiment**: The overall market sentiment remains positive, with a notable increase in new brokerage account openings, which rose by 81% month-over-month to 2.84 million in February [2][10][26] Conclusion The conference highlighted a recovery in trading activity and margin financing in the Chinese securities market, alongside a challenging IPO environment. M&A speculation and regulatory support for technology enterprises are key themes, with long-term fund inflows indicating a positive outlook for market stability and growth.