October 23, 2025 09:00 PM GMT China Equity Strategy | Asia Pacific A-Share Sentiment Fell Further with Trade Tensions Market sentiment cooled down further with lingering China-US trade tensions. We advise a balanced approach with focus on earnings quality in the near term while awaiting trade tension clarity. Stick to quality stocks with high earnings visibility and dividend plays for now. A-share investor sentiment cooled down vs. the previous cycle: Weighted and simple MSASI declined 15ppt and 16ppt, to 9 ...

October 16, 2025 09:00 PM GMT China Equity Strategy | Asia Pacific A-Share Sentiment Cooled Down US/China Tension Re- Escalates Market sentiment cooled down amid slower credit growth and lukewarm holiday spending while US/China trade tension re- escalated ahead of the APEC summit. We consider a tactical truce as our base case but do not recommend risk-on at the moment. OW A-shares if tension extends beyond Nov-25. A-share investor sentiment cooled down vs. previous cycle: Weighted and simple MSASI declined ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: A-Shares in China - **Current Sentiment**: Investor sentiment in the A-share market has cooled, with a notable decrease in trading volume and turnover across various segments [1][2][5]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Investor Sentiment**: The Morgan Stanley A-share Sentiment Indicator (MSASI) has dropped, with weighted and simple MSASI decreasing by 14 percentage points and 16 percentage points to 112% and 106%, respectively [2][7]. - **Trading Volume**: Daily turnover for ChiNext, A-shares, equity futures, and Northbound trading fell by 14% (to RMB 568 billion), 16% (to RMB 1,982 billion), 28% (to RMB 404 billion), and 21% (to RMB 132 billion), respectively [2]. - **Earnings Estimates**: The breadth of consensus earnings estimate revisions remains negative but has shown slight improvement compared to the previous week [2][5]. - **Macro Data**: August inflation showed some improvement, primarily driven by consumer goods trade-in, but food prices remain a drag on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) [4][5]. - **Export Performance**: August exports were resilient despite missing market expectations, attributed to competitive supply chains and a weaker trade-weighted RMB. However, exports are expected to moderate in the second half of the year [5]. Important Developments - **Net Inflows**: Southbound trading recorded net inflows of USD 5.2 billion from September 4-10, with year-to-date and month-to-date net inflows reaching USD 133.4 billion and USD 8.7 billion, respectively [3]. - **Policy Initiatives**: China is preparing to address a significant backlog of unpaid bills owed by local governments to the private sector, amounting to USD 1 trillion [5]. - **Geopolitical Monitoring**: Ongoing monitoring of geopolitical developments, particularly between the US and China, is crucial for understanding potential market impacts [15]. Additional Noteworthy Points - **Investor Behavior**: Investors appear to be taking profits and awaiting clearer signals regarding macroeconomic conditions, policy changes, and corporate fundamentals [5]. - **Earnings Deterioration**: A-shares have shown some moderated deterioration in earnings as the second quarter results season concludes [5]. - **MSASI Methodology**: The MSASI is based on nine metrics that gauge onshore sentiment, including margin transactions, new investor registrations, and A-share turnover [16][17][23]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, highlighting the current state of the A-share market, investor sentiment, macroeconomic indicators, and significant policy developments.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **A-share market** in China, highlighting recent trends in investor sentiment and market performance amid potential government interventions and economic indicators. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Investor Sentiment Decline**: A-share investor sentiment has decreased significantly, with the weighted MSASI dropping by **32 percentage points** to **126%** and the simple MSASI to **121%** compared to the previous cutoff date of August 28 [2][6][11]. 2. **Market Correction**: Reports of government measures to cool market sentiment have led to a notable market correction, with the Shanghai Composite Index down **1.3%**, CSI 300 Index down **2.1%**, and ChiNext index down **4.2%** on September 4 [4][11]. 3. **Turnover Trends**: Daily turnover for ChiNext, A-shares, and Northbound fell by **26%** (to **RMB 658 billion**), **25%** (to **RMB 2,366 billion**), and **17%** (to **RMB 166 billion**), respectively, indicating reduced trading activity [2][11]. 4. **Net Inflows**: Southbound trading recorded net inflows of **US$ 2.3 billion** from August 28 to September 3, with year-to-date and month-to-date net inflows reaching **US$ 128.1 billion** and **US$ 3.4 billion**, respectively [3][11]. 5. **Earnings Misses**: The A-share market has seen a moderate miss in earnings, with a slight deterioration compared to Q1 results, indicating potential challenges in corporate fundamentals [11][12]. Additional Important Insights 1. **PMI Indicators**: August PMIs showed a continued growth slowdown, with construction PMI dropping to a record low of **49.1** and manufacturing PMI for consumer goods at **49.2**, reflecting weakening economic conditions [11]. 2. **Government Policy Impact**: The upcoming **15th Five-Year Plan** to be announced in mid-October is expected to be a critical checkpoint for assessing the need for structural reforms to support economic stability [11]. 3. **Monitoring Signposts**: Investors are advised to monitor key indicators such as onshore bond yields, policy catalysts focusing on consumption and social benefits, earnings trajectories, and potential government interventions to stabilize the market [11]. Conclusion - The A-share market is currently facing challenges due to declining investor sentiment, market corrections, and economic indicators suggesting a slowdown. The effectiveness of government interventions and upcoming policy announcements will be crucial in determining the market's trajectory in the near future.

Group 1 - The A-share market has experienced a pullback for two consecutive days, with the Shanghai Composite Index falling over 1% and the ChiNext Index rising by 0.95% on September 3, indicating mixed market sentiment [1][4] - The leading securities ETF (560090) has seen a decline of 3.07% but recorded a premium of 1.03% at the end of the trading day, suggesting strong buying interest despite the overall market weakness [1][4] - Over the past three days, there has been a net inflow of over 160 million yuan into the securities ETF, indicating continued investor interest in the sector [1][4] Group 2 - The majority of the index components for the leading securities ETF have experienced declines, with notable drops in stocks such as Dongfang Caifu (down over 4%) and CITIC Securities (down over 3%) [3] - The securities industry has shown resilience, with a reported revenue of 251.036 billion yuan in the first half of the year, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 23.47%, and a net profit of 112.28 billion yuan, up 40.37% [4][6] - The outlook for the second half of 2025 suggests that the securities industry may further demonstrate performance elasticity, supported by high trading volumes and normalized equity financing [6]

Group 1 - The market shows signs of localized overheating, but it is not fully overheated [2][3] - Short-term market may experience slight corrections, but the overall extent is manageable [3] - The technology sector is expected to present significant investment opportunities due to trends in advanced manufacturing [3] Group 2 - Current A-share sentiment index is at a historically high level [4] - Multiple dimensions such as market liquidity and trading activity indicate a crowded market, particularly in sectors like chemicals, machinery, and electronics [5] - A high number of industries are currently in a state of persistent crowding, which may lead to market adjustments [5] Group 3 - Short-term investment opportunities are recommended in sectors such as non-ferrous metals, real estate, and aerospace [6][7] - Policy support and a shift of household savings towards capital markets are expected to provide strong backing for the market [6] - The overall profit growth of A-share listed companies is projected to turn positive by 2025, with significant elasticity in the technology innovation sector [6]

Market Overview - The A-share market opened lower and fluctuated, with the Shanghai Composite Index slightly up by 0.11% to 3888 points, while the Shenzhen Component Index rose by 0.73% [1] - The total trading volume in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets reached 169.98 billion yuan [1] Sector Performance - Strong performing sectors included gaming, aquaculture, beauty care, chemical fiber, agricultural product processing, IT services, environmental protection equipment, logistics, and software development [1] - Weaker sectors included small metals, new materials, medical services, military equipment, banking, electric machinery, and semiconductors [1] Concept Stocks - Notable concept stocks that saw gains included poultry, pork, Huawei's Euler, and Huawei's Ascend [1] Market Sentiment - Current A-share market sentiment is at a historically high level, with various indices such as the Shanghai 50, CSI 300, CSI 500, and CSI 1000 experiencing high volatility [2] - The VIX for the E Fund ChiNext ETF has shown a phase of decline, indicating potential market stabilization [2] Institutional Focus - Institutions are currently focusing on the retail trade and non-bank financial sectors, while interest in the transportation sector has decreased from previous highs [2] - Many industries are approaching crowded indicator thresholds, indicating potential shifts in market dynamics [2] Future Outlook - Looking ahead to August 2025, there is optimism for relative returns in sectors such as non-ferrous metals, banking, electricity and utilities, construction, and food and beverage [2]

Group 1 - The A-share market sentiment is currently at a historically high level, characterized by market liquidity, asset pricing differentials, and trading activity [1] - The report from Huatai Securities highlights the release of DeepSeek-V3.1, which features high efficiency and a large dynamic range, indicating significant advancements in domestic hardware and software collaboration [2] - Zhongyuan Securities suggests that multiple favorable policies are providing strong support for the market, with a shift of household savings towards the capital market creating a continuous source of incremental funds [3] Group 2 - The overall profit growth expectation for A-share listed companies is projected to turn positive by 2025, with notable elasticity in the technology innovation sector [3] - The report indicates that the Federal Reserve's signals of potential interest rate cuts and a weaker dollar are likely to facilitate foreign capital inflow into A-shares [3] - Short-term investment opportunities are recommended in sectors such as non-ferrous metals, real estate, and aerospace, with a steady upward trend expected in the market [3]

Group 1 - Current A-share market sentiment is at a historically high level, characterized by liquidity, asset pricing differences, and trading activity [1] - Several industries, including chemicals, building materials, light manufacturing, machinery, defense, automotive, home appliances, textiles, non-bank financials, electronics, communications, computers, and media, are triggering congestion indicators [1] - A high number of industries are in a sustained congestion state, indicating potential for market adjustments [1] Group 2 - A-share market showed strong fluctuations with sectors like liquor, non-ferrous metals, communication equipment, and aerospace performing well, while electronic chemicals, automotive, beauty care, and utilities lagged [2] - There is a notable shift of household savings towards capital markets, providing a continuous source of incremental funds [2] - The overall profit growth expectation for A-share listed companies is projected to turn positive by 2025, ending a four-year decline, with significant elasticity in the technology innovation sector [2] Group 3 - Following stabilization of overseas liquidity disturbances, the A-share market continued its trend of rising volume and price, with the Shanghai Composite Index nearing 3900 points and total market turnover exceeding 30 trillion [3] - There is a focus on the rotation opportunities in recently popular sectors and potential rebounds in relatively low-positioned sectors supported by recent policies [3] - The "anti-involution" policy and demand-side policies are expected to significantly influence the A-share market, with household savings entering the market being a crucial support for index strength [3]

Market Sentiment - The A-share market sentiment index has shown a slight decline but remains in an optimistic range, with trading congestion levels showing divergence and overall levels being relatively high [1][10] - The market sentiment reached its highest level of the year due to factors such as easing Middle Eastern geopolitical risks and expectations surrounding "anti-involution" policies, approaching the peak seen in July 2020 [1][11] - However, as policy expectations cool and overseas equity markets experience significant adjustments, the A-share market sentiment is trending downward, with the 5-day moving average of the sentiment index falling below the 20-day moving average [1][11] Earnings Expectations - The earnings expectations for A-shares remain weak, with the consensus net profit growth forecast for the CSI 300 index at 0.7%, down 2.8 percentage points from 2024 [3][4] - Despite a low base for earnings last year, the profit growth forecast for small-cap indices in 2025 is still low [3] - Economic stimulus is likely to increase in the second half of the year, which may help offset the impact of weak external demand and trade frictions, but the overall offsetting effect is expected to be moderate [3] Liquidity Environment - The liquidity environment remains supportive, with stock ETFs experiencing a net outflow of approximately 4.9 billion yuan, although the outflow scale is gradually shrinking [7][10] - Northbound capital saw a net inflow of around 4.7 billion yuan, marking a shift from previous net outflows [7][10] - Retail investors continue to show strong buying interest, with a net inflow of approximately 35.1 billion yuan, marking 12 consecutive weeks of net inflows [7][10] Trading Congestion - Trading congestion levels in the A-share market are showing significant divergence, with some indices experiencing rising congestion while others see a decline [10] - The trading congestion for indices like the CSI 1000 and CSI 2000 has notably increased, while indices such as the CSI 300 and SSE 50 have seen a decrease [10] - Overall, while trading sentiment has surpassed the high point of October 2024, there is still a notable gap in trading congestion levels, indicating that bullish trading has not yet reached a significantly overheated state [10]