（文章来源：经济日报） 业绩飘红的背后，投资端回暖功不可没。中央财经大学中国精算科技实验室主任陈辉表示，去年底以 来，权益市场持续回升，不少险企加大股票和基金配置力度，综合投资收益明显改善；同时，"报行合 一"新规压降渠道成本，险企主动调整产品结构，减少高成本低价值产品，增加分红、万能、投连等弹 性较强的产品，降低了负债成本。投资收益和费用优化双轮驱动，让不少险企利润曲线向上翘起。 行业负债端进入"再定价"时代。普通型人身险产品的预定利率研究值已降至1.99%，连续两季度触发上 限调整机制，分红险、万能险等的定价利率也同步下调。业内专家认为，这意味着行业在产品端迎来新 一轮结构调整，预定利率下调既能缓解利差损压力，又有助于提升新单盈利性和销售积极性，为公司和 客户构建更加稳健的利益格局。 在行业整体回暖的背景下，中英人寿也交出一份稳中有进的答卷。上半年，该公司预计实现保险业务收 入142.68亿元，同比增长31%，净利润6.81亿元；期末综合偿付能力充足率305.83%、核心偿付能力充足 率217.4%。 业内人士普遍认为，今年上半年非上市人身险公司业绩的回暖，是行业从高速增长向高质量发展转型的 重要标志。净 ...

Summary of Insurance Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The insurance industry total assets reached 23 trillion yuan in Q1, a year-on-year increase of 12% [1] - The scale of life insurance was 31 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 16.8%, although the growth rate decreased quarter-on-quarter, indicating a rational return in premium sales [1][3] Key Insights and Arguments - Life insurance dominates the asset allocation in the insurance sector, with increased allocations to stocks and bonds while reducing fund allocations [1][4] - The bond allocation ratio rose to 51.2%, and stock allocation increased to 8.4%, while long-term equity investments rose to 8.3% [1][4] - Fund allocation decreased to 4.7%, primarily due to new accounting standards affecting the profit and loss statement significantly [1][4] - The weighted average dividend yield of heavily held stocks in Q1 reached 3.6%, significantly higher than 2.5% in 2024, reflecting an increased demand for dividends to offset low interest rates [1][5] Changes in Asset Allocation - In Q1 2025, the total scale of insurance funds reached 35 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.7%, maintaining a high growth level despite a slight decrease from 18% in 2024 [3] - The property insurance scale was 2.3 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 12% [3] - The increase in bond allocation reflects strong demand for long-term bonds, while the decrease in fund allocation is attributed to the new accounting rules [4] Heavy Holdings and Sector Performance - The banking sector's holdings increased by 0.4 percentage points, with notable increases in transportation and telecommunications services, aligning with high dividend performance in Q1 [5] - Sectors such as food and beverage, public utilities, and energy saw a decrease in holdings [5] Future Outlook - The outlook for future insurance fund allocation is positive, with expectations of a decline in medium to long-term liability costs due to fee reductions and dynamic pricing mechanisms [6] - Equity asset allocation is seen as the key to addressing interest spread loss pressures, with expectations that leading insurance companies will continue to increase their allocation to equity assets [2][6] - The risk of interest spread loss for leading insurance companies is relatively low, and their medium to long-term profitability (ROE) is expected to improve significantly [2][6]

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Records Industry Overview - The insurance industry, particularly life insurance, is characterized as a long-term risk management tool significantly influenced by interest rate risks, contrasting with the short-term risk management of property insurance [1][6][17] - The Chinese critical illness insurance market experienced rapid growth due to inadequate healthcare systems and public health risk concerns, but the emergence of inclusive commercial insurance has led to a decline in market share [1][13] Core Insights and Arguments - Chinese insurance companies are currently facing pressure from interest rate spreads due to a shift in product structure from critical illness insurance to savings-type policies, resulting in increased liability costs and exacerbated issues from declining market interest rates [1][14][15] - To counteract the pressure from interest rate spreads, Chinese insurance companies are compelled to increase their allocation to equity assets to enhance investment returns, which can stabilize operations in a low valuation environment [1][15][17] - The design of life insurance products follows a cost-plus logic, where companies use actuarial techniques to assess mortality rates, expense ratios, and interest rates, incorporating a profit margin into the cost structure [1][7] Market Dynamics - In China, the number of agents is positively correlated with premium growth, especially during the rapid growth of critical illness insurance, indicating a heavy reliance on agents for selling protection products [1][9] - From a fundamental and valuation recovery perspective, Hong Kong stocks are preferred over A-shares, and insurance stocks are favored over brokerage firms due to significant valuation discounts and recovery potential [1][16] Investment Opportunities - Investment opportunities in the non-bank financial sector for 2025 are primarily focused on undervalued debt-like financial stocks, particularly insurance stocks, with a shift in focus from liability growth to investment changes [2][18] - Recommendations for future investments in the Chinese insurance sector include focusing on valuation recovery opportunities in Hong Kong stocks and selecting A-share stocks based on their elasticity [18] Additional Important Insights - The U.S. life insurance industry historically evolved by selling the underlying value concepts rather than just the products, which played a crucial role in its development [4][8] - The rapid growth of China's critical illness insurance market before 2012 was driven by insufficient major illness coverage in the healthcare system and increased public concern over health risks, particularly during periods of severe environmental pollution [12] - The decline in the critical illness insurance market post-2020 is attributed to the introduction of inclusive commercial insurance products that effectively replaced traditional critical illness insurance [13] This summary encapsulates the essential insights and dynamics of the life insurance industry as discussed in the conference call records, highlighting the challenges, market trends, and investment opportunities.

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of VAT on interest income from newly issued government bonds, local government bonds, and financial bonds starting August 8 has led to a rise in the value of existing bonds compared to new ones, causing a shift in investment focus towards high-dividend stocks in the A-share market, particularly bank stocks [1][2][3]. Group 1: Bond Market Impact - New tax policy on interest income from bonds has resulted in a decline in the investment attractiveness of government bonds, leading to a short-term increase in bond market values [1]. - The long-term downtrend in interest rates has made traditional bond investments less appealing, prompting investors to seek alternative high-yield assets [2]. Group 2: A-share Market Dynamics - A-share market saw a significant rise, with the index increasing by 200 points in July, driven by insurance funds favoring high-dividend assets [1][2]. - Insurance funds have increasingly turned to bank stocks, with at least eight instances of shareholding increases in banks from January to May 2025, particularly by the Ping An group [2][3]. Group 3: Bank Stock Performance - Bank stocks have shown substantial growth, with Agricultural Bank surpassing Industrial and Commercial Bank in market capitalization as of August 6, 2025 [3]. - Year-to-date performance of major banks indicates significant gains, with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank up over 38% and Agricultural Bank close to 30%, outperforming the broader market indices [3][4]. Group 4: Future Considerations - The recent surge in bank stock prices may lead to a reevaluation of their investment value, potentially triggering a renewed interest in government bonds if bank stock prices exceed their investment attractiveness [5].

Group 1 - Insurance capital continues to increase holdings in listed companies, with 18 companies being targeted in 2024, surpassing the total from the previous year [1][13] - Hongkang Life Insurance acquired an additional 458,000 shares of Honghua Smart Energy, raising its stake to 5.00005% [3][4] - The total investment in Honghua Smart Energy amounted to approximately HKD 1.816 million, with a per-share price of HKD 3.9659 [4][5] Group 2 - Honghua Smart Energy reported a total revenue of HKD 21.314 billion in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 7.42%, and a net profit of HKD 1.606 billion, up 2% [5] - The company operates in 27 provinces and has a strong market position in the gas industry, supported by stable gas sources and growing sales [5] - Hongkang Life Insurance's total assets as of Q2 2025 were approximately CNY 6.60 billion, with the investment in Honghua Smart Energy representing 1.31% of its total assets [3][8] Group 3 - The insurance sector has seen a significant increase in shareholding activities, with 22 instances of shareholding changes reported in 2025 alone [1][13] - Major insurance companies, including Ping An Life and China Postal Life, have been actively increasing their stakes in various sectors, particularly in banking and public utilities [14][15] - The trend of insurance companies increasing their equity investments is driven by low interest rates and the need for stable investment returns [13][14]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the insurance industry [1]. Core Insights - The report highlights that the improvement in liability costs for life insurance companies is expected to alleviate the pressure from interest rate differentials, driven by regulatory guidance and market conditions [15][19]. - The report emphasizes the significant decline in the break-even yield for new business value (NBV) and value of in-force (VIF) across various life insurance companies, indicating a trend of improving profitability [10][14]. Summary by Sections Current Liability Costs of Life Insurance Companies - The break-even yield for NBV has marginally decreased for major life insurance companies in 2024, influenced by lower guaranteed rates and improved channel cost efficiency [10][14]. - The NBV break-even yields for major companies in 2024 are as follows: China Life (2.43%), Ping An Life (2.42%), and China Pacific Life (2.60%) [9]. - The VIF break-even yields show a mixed trend, with China Life at 2.44% and Ping An Life at 2.50% in 2024, reflecting varying performance across companies [12][14]. Future Liability Cost Trends - Regulatory initiatives are pushing for a unified commission structure across distribution channels, which is expected to lower channel costs and improve liability costs [25][29]. - The continuous reduction in the guaranteed rates for life insurance products since August 2023 is anticipated to further decrease the liability costs for new and existing policies [29][30]. - Life insurance companies are actively adjusting their product offerings, focusing on dividend products to enhance profitability and reduce fixed liability costs [36][39]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends maintaining an "Outperform" rating for the insurance industry, citing improvements in liability costs and potential for enhanced net profit due to favorable investment conditions [45][48]. - Specific companies highlighted for investment include China Pacific Insurance, China Life, and Ping An Insurance, based on their strong fundamentals and ability to adapt to market changes [48].

Group 1 - The latest scale of the Hong Kong Stock Connect Non-Bank ETF reached 12.707 billion yuan as of July 31, 2025, with a record high of 7.689 billion shares [1] - The ETF has seen continuous net inflows over the past 22 days, with a maximum single-day net inflow of 820 million yuan, totaling 7.468 billion yuan [1] - The ETF's net value increased by 85.25% over the past year, ranking 34th out of 2,943 index equity funds, placing it in the top 1.16% [1] Group 2 - The CSI Hong Kong Stock Connect Non-Bank Financial Theme Index includes up to 50 listed companies that meet the non-bank financial theme criteria, reflecting the overall performance of these companies [2] - The top ten weighted stocks in the index account for 78.19%, with China Ping An, AIA, and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing each exceeding 14% [2] - China Life Insurance received a net inflow of 1.114 billion HKD from southbound funds, with a cumulative net inflow of 7.828 billion HKD over the past 20 days [2] Group 3 - In the first half of 2025, life insurance companies' original premium income grew by 5.4% year-on-year, with a second-quarter growth rate of 16.3% [3] - Property insurance companies reported a premium income of 964.5 billion yuan, also reflecting a year-on-year growth of 5.1% [3] - The insurance industry faces significant interest spread loss risks, with a need to lower new single liability costs to alleviate pressure [3] Group 4 - The "interest spread loss" pressure is identified as the core reason for the valuation pressure on insurance stocks, with potential for valuation recovery if the risk converges [4] - The Hong Kong Stock Connect Non-Bank ETF is the first and only ETF tracking the non-bank index, with over 60% of its composition in insurance stocks [4]

Core Viewpoint - The recent fluctuations in the A-share market around the 3600-point mark have drawn attention to insurance funds, which have become significant players in the market by frequently acquiring bank stocks. This shift is driven by a decline in the preset interest rate for ordinary life insurance to 1.99%, creating pressure for asset allocation amidst falling bond yields, leading to a potential transformation in investment logic for insurance stocks [1][8]. Group 1: Insurance Market Dynamics - The Chinese insurance market is characterized by a dual-track system of property and life insurance, with distinct participants, product forms, and profit logic, contributing to a diverse commercial model [2]. - In the property insurance sector, six major non-life insurance companies, including China Pacific Insurance and Ping An Property Insurance, hold a combined market share of 70%, focusing on quantifiable losses from risks like property damage and business interruption [2]. - The life and health insurance market is dominated by seven major companies, including China Life and Ping An Life, which contribute 46% of the premium scale, with products spanning life insurance, pensions, and health insurance [4]. Group 2: Profit Sources and Challenges - Investment spread is the core profit driver for Chinese life insurance companies, with a shift towards dividend-type policies to mitigate pressure from declining risk-free interest rates [6]. - The mortality/morbidity spread reflects the value of protection products, with a focus on accurate pricing and commission control, necessitating enhanced actuarial capabilities and channel management [6]. - The expense spread in the Chinese market is unique, with larger companies benefiting from economies of scale, contrasting with smaller firms that face higher marketing costs [6]. Group 3: Future Outlook and Valuation - Recent changes in the insurance industry have sparked discussions about whether it can replicate the valuation recovery seen in bank stocks, driven by improvements in fundamentals and valuation [8]. - The adjustment of preset interest rates is crucial for alleviating the "spread loss" pressure in the life insurance sector, with expectations of a decline in new business liability costs [8][9]. - Current internal insurance companies have a PEV (Present Embedded Value) below 1, indicating significant undervaluation, with companies like China Pacific Insurance and China Life being notably undervalued [9][10]. Group 4: Market Catalysts - The combined effect of policy guidance and the insurance companies' own needs is expected to accelerate the influx of incremental funds into the market, enhancing stability and long-term investment returns [11]. - The insurance sector's current improvement in fundamentals and low valuations may lead to a similar valuation recovery as seen in bank stocks if asset returns continue to improve and liability structures adjust smoothly [11].

Group 1 - The Shanghai Composite Index has surpassed the 3600-point mark for the first time since October 8 of the previous year, indicating a potential bullish market trend [1][8] - Historical data suggests that once the index stabilizes above 3600 points, targets of 3700 and even 4000 points become achievable [1][8] - The market has shown strong bullish sentiment, with trading volumes exceeding 1 trillion yuan for 43 consecutive days, recently hovering around 1.8 trillion yuan [1][8] Group 2 - Multiple institutions are optimistic about the current bull market, with reports indicating that the index has confirmed a comprehensive market rally [2][8] - The index has broken through previous high points, signaling a significant shift in market sentiment and the establishment of a bull market [2][8] Group 3 - The insurance sector is gaining attention due to its deep connection with the capital markets, with leading companies like Ping An showing strong performance [4][21] - As of July 28, the insurance index has seen a cumulative increase of 28% since April 8, while the Hong Kong insurance sector has risen nearly 48% in the same period [22][23] Group 4 - The current bull market is characterized by a "slow bull" trend, driven by policy guidance and a reassessment of confidence in Chinese assets [9][10] - The influx of foreign capital into A-shares and Hong Kong stocks has increased investor confidence, with a net increase of 10.1 billion USD in domestic stocks and funds in the first half of the year [9][10] Group 5 - The insurance sector is expected to benefit from a combination of policy support, market conditions, and improvements in the fundamentals of insurance companies [24][29] - The recent adjustments in preset interest rates and the easing of capital constraints are likely to enhance the valuation recovery of insurance companies [24][30] Group 6 - Ping An is positioned as a key beneficiary of the current market dynamics, with significant growth in its new business value and improvements in its operational efficiency [38][40] - The company's integrated financial and healthcare ecosystem is expected to provide additional valuation premiums, distinguishing it from traditional insurance firms [40][41]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the insurance industry [12]. Core Insights - The insurance industry is transitioning from a focus on "spread loss" to a growth mindset, with expectations of a sustained increase in interest spreads driving profitability [2][9]. - The adjustment of pricing rates is expected to alleviate spread loss risks, with major insurers announcing reductions in their pricing rates, which will lower new business liability costs [7][8]. - The competitive landscape is becoming more concentrated, favoring leading insurers who are better positioned to expand their balance sheets amid stricter regulations [8]. Summary by Sections Pricing Rate Adjustments - The insurance industry association has set the predetermined interest rate at 1.99%, with a mechanism in place for dynamic adjustments based on market conditions [6]. - Major insurers like China Life and Ping An have announced reductions in their pricing rates, which will benefit the industry by lowering liability costs [7]. Competitive Landscape - Regulatory measures are tightening, particularly around liability management, which is expected to favor compliant leading insurers [8]. - The anticipated reduction in predetermined rates will challenge smaller insurers that previously relied on aggressive pricing strategies to gain market share [8]. Profitability Outlook - The report suggests that the insurance industry's profitability is likely to improve as interest spreads are expected to rise in the medium to long term [2][9]. - Recommendations for individual stocks include New China Life, China Pacific Insurance, China Life, and Ping An, as they are expected to benefit from the evolving market dynamics [2][9].