Core Viewpoint - The report from China International Capital Corporation (CICC) indicates that while the micro-cap style has shown strong performance, its advantages may weaken over time, although there are still structural opportunities available [1] Policy Support - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) released guidelines on May 16 to optimize the regulation of mergers and acquisitions, which encourages the integration of small and micro enterprises, providing additional funding sources and reducing liquidity pressure for micro-cap stocks [2] - The impact of the new restructuring guidelines on micro-cap stocks is expected to be marginally weaker compared to previous policies, but it still offers long-term support to the market [2] Market Environment - The current financial market in China is characterized by a relatively loose liquidity environment, supported by synchronized expansion in social financing and M2 growth, along with comprehensive reserve requirement ratio cuts by the central bank [2] - This loose liquidity environment provides systematic support for the performance of high-elasticity styles, including micro-cap stocks [2] Predictive Indicators - The report indicates that the current low concentration of institutional holdings and the lower popularity of large-cap styles are favorable for micro-cap styles [2] - The decreasing PB ratio of large-cap to small-cap stocks since the second half of 2024 suggests a gradual shift of funds towards small-cap styles, enhancing the funding support and popularity for micro-cap styles [2] Funding Types - As of May 27, 2025, among the 400 stocks in the Wind Micro-Cap Index, 72 stocks have a financing participation ratio of 3% or more, and 19 stocks have a financing participation ratio of 5% or more, indicating a high level of participation from high-risk preference funds [3] - Institutional investors have shown increased interest in micro-cap stocks, although they remain cautious in their investment strategies due to risk considerations [3] Calendar Effect - Historical data shows a higher probability of price increases for micro-cap stocks in May, with specific months exhibiting distinct calendar effects [3] - The performance of micro-cap stocks is significantly influenced by the timing of earnings announcements due to their smaller size and initial growth stage [3] Crowding Risk - Currently, the micro-cap style has not triggered any crowding signals, indicating a lower risk of short-term pullbacks due to excessive crowding [3]

Core Viewpoint - The recent strong performance of the micro-cap style is attributed to multiple factors, including macro policies, market environment, and event effects, with the Wind Micro-Cap Index leading the market with a monthly increase of 9.31% and a year-to-date return of 24.37% as of May 27, 2025 [1][6]. Group 1: Policy Benefits - The release of policies aimed at invigorating small and micro enterprises has positively impacted the micro-cap style, particularly following the China Securities Regulatory Commission's guidance on optimizing mergers and acquisitions [2][7]. - The new policies have streamlined approval processes and reduced funding pressures for micro-cap companies, encouraging private equity participation and enhancing support for technology innovation [7][8]. Group 2: Market Environment - A relatively loose liquidity environment, characterized by synchronized growth in social financing and M2, has provided systemic support for high-elasticity styles like micro-cap stocks [2][9]. - The M2 growth rate reached 8.0% in April 2025, the highest in nearly a year, indicating a favorable liquidity backdrop for micro-cap performance [9][11]. Group 3: Predictive Indicators - The current low concentration of institutional holdings and declining large-cap to small-cap PB ratio are favorable for micro-cap style, suggesting increased attention to potential investment opportunities [3][12]. - As of May 2025, institutional holdings remain at a historically low concentration, indicating a broader market focus on smaller companies [12][13]. Group 4: Funding Types - High-risk preference funds have shown significant participation in micro-cap stocks, with 72 out of 400 index constituents having a financing participation ratio of 3% or more [3][16]. - Institutional investors are cautiously increasing their allocation to micro-cap stocks, seeking opportunities while remaining mindful of risk [16][24]. Group 5: Calendar Effects - Historical data indicates a higher probability of micro-cap style gains in May, following a downturn in April, attributed to the resolution of earnings-related concerns [3][25]. - The analysis shows that micro-cap stocks tend to perform well in May due to reduced market anxiety over potential delistings and improved valuation recovery [25][26]. Group 6: Crowding Risk - Current indicators suggest that the micro-cap style has not triggered crowding signals, indicating a lower risk of short-term pullbacks due to excessive crowding [4][30]. - The micro-cap index's crowding score remains low, suggesting minimal risk of significant downturns from overexposure [30][32]. Group 7: Future Outlook - The micro-cap style may experience diminishing advantages, but structural opportunities are likely to persist, supported by ongoing policy backing for small and micro enterprises [5][33]. - Investors are expected to focus more on high-growth quality small and micro enterprises, with potential volatility in the market as liquidity conditions evolve [33][34].

- The report tracks various market environment factors, including stock market factors, commodity market factors, options market factors, and convertible bond market factors[1][3][6] Stock Market Factors 1. **Factor Name**: Market Style - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the performance of different market styles, such as large-cap vs. small-cap and value vs. growth[10] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by analyzing the performance and volatility of different market styles. For example, the large-cap style is compared to the small-cap style, and the value style is compared to the growth style[10] - **Evaluation**: The large-cap value style is currently dominant, with increased volatility in both large-cap vs. small-cap and value vs. growth styles[10][12] 2. **Factor Name**: Market Structure - **Construction Idea**: The factor examines the structure of the market by analyzing industry index excess return dispersion, component stock rise ratio, and industry rotation speed[10] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the dispersion of excess returns among industry indices, the proportion of rising component stocks, and the speed of industry rotation[10] - **Evaluation**: The dispersion of industry index excess returns and the proportion of rising component stocks have decreased, while the speed of industry rotation has also decreased[10][12] 3. **Factor Name**: Market Activity - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks market activity by analyzing market volatility and turnover rate[11] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the volatility and turnover rate of the market[11] - **Evaluation**: Market volatility remains low, and the turnover rate continues to decline[11][12] Commodity Market Factors 1. **Factor Name**: Trend Strength - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the strength of trends in different commodity sectors[25] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by analyzing the trend strength in sectors such as energy, metals, and agriculture[25] - **Evaluation**: The energy and metals sectors show strong trends, while the trend strength in the precious metals sector is rising[25][29] 2. **Factor Name**: Basis Momentum - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the momentum of the basis in different commodity sectors[25] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the basis momentum in sectors such as energy, metals, and agriculture[25] - **Evaluation**: Except for the agricultural sector, which has low basis momentum, other sectors have high basis momentum[25][29] 3. **Factor Name**: Volatility - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the volatility levels in different commodity sectors[25] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the volatility levels in sectors such as energy, metals, and agriculture[25] - **Evaluation**: The energy sector has high volatility, while the metals and agricultural sectors have low volatility[25][29] 4. **Factor Name**: Liquidity - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the liquidity levels in different commodity sectors[25] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the liquidity levels in sectors such as energy, metals, and agriculture[25] - **Evaluation**: Liquidity levels have decreased across all sectors[25][29] Options Market Factors 1. **Factor Name**: Implied Volatility - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the implied volatility levels of different options[35] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the implied volatility levels of options on indices such as the SSE 50 and CSI 1000[35] - **Evaluation**: Implied volatility levels for both the SSE 50 and CSI 1000 options are rising[35] 2. **Factor Name**: Skewness - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the skewness of different options[35] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the skewness of call and put options on indices such as the SSE 50 and CSI 1000[35] - **Evaluation**: The skewness of both call and put options on the SSE 50 has decreased, while the skewness of put options on the CSI 1000 remains higher than that of call options[35] Convertible Bond Market Factors 1. **Factor Name**: Valuation - **Construction Idea**: The factor tracks the valuation levels of convertible bonds[36] - **Construction Process**: The factor is constructed by measuring the premium rates of convertible bonds[36] - **Evaluation**: The premium rates of convertible bonds have slightly decreased, and the market activity has weakened[36] Factor Backtesting Results 1. **Market Style Factor**: Large-cap value style is dominant, with increased volatility in both large-cap vs. small-cap and value vs. growth styles[10][12] 2. **Market Structure Factor**: Decreased dispersion of industry index excess returns, decreased proportion of rising component stocks, and decreased speed of industry rotation[10][12] 3. **Market Activity Factor**: Low market volatility and declining turnover rate[11][12] 4. **Trend Strength Factor**: Strong trends in the energy and metals sectors, rising trend strength in the precious metals sector[25][29] 5. **Basis Momentum Factor**: High basis momentum in all sectors except agriculture[25][29] 6. **Volatility Factor**: High volatility in the energy sector, low volatility in the metals and agricultural sectors[25][29] 7. **Liquidity Factor**: Decreased liquidity levels across all sectors[25][29] 8. **Implied Volatility Factor**: Rising implied volatility levels for both SSE 50 and CSI 1000 options[35] 9. **Skewness Factor**: Decreased skewness for both call and put options on the SSE 50, higher skewness for put options on the CSI 1000 compared to call options[35] 10. **Valuation Factor**: Slightly decreased premium rates for convertible bonds, weakened market activity[36]