Core Insights - The 19th National Futures (Options) Live Trading Competition and the 12th Global Derivatives Live Trading Competition are in the final stages, with over 166,000 accounts participating as of September 11 [1] - The futures market is experiencing significant volatility due to expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, geopolitical factors, and fluctuations in commodity prices, leading to inconsistent profits among participants [1] - A notable trend is the "strong stock, weak commodity" dynamic, with stock index futures and commodities closely related to equity markets attracting more capital [2] Market Conditions - Since late August, the commodity market has been in a state of consolidation, with prices lacking a clear trend, making trend-following strategies less effective [1][2] - The Shanghai Composite Index saw a nearly 9% increase from 3560 to 3880 points between August 1 and 25, while the commodity index remained flat [2] - On September 5, both commodity and stock indices experienced over 1% daily increases, resulting in a nearly 1 billion yuan increase in overall profits for competition accounts [2] Trading Strategies - Participants are advised to avoid broad-based strategies and focus on commodities with favorable supply-demand dynamics, low inventories, and potential policy or event-driven catalysts [3] - It is recommended to manage risk by diversifying investments and avoiding over-concentration in a single market or sector [3] - Traders should also review their trading mindset and behaviors to enhance market understanding and trading skills [3] Competition Performance - The competition has historically shown a pattern of "few excellent, many mediocre, some losses," with top traders securing good returns while others face pressure due to poor performance [4] - As of September 10, the Global Competition had 532 accounts with total funds of 4,686 million USD, while various awards and rankings are being tracked across different categories [5][6]

Group 1: Market Trends and Highs - The report tracks stocks, industries, and sectors reaching new highs, serving as market indicators and highlighting the effectiveness of momentum and trend-following strategies [1][4][22] - As of August 29, 2025, major indices such as the Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Component are close to their 250-day highs, with respective distances of 0.66% and 0.00% [5][22] - Among the CITIC primary industry indices, sectors like non-ferrous metals, electric equipment and new energy, and communication are near their 250-day highs, while coal, real estate, and banking are further away [8][22] Group 2: High-Performing Stocks - A total of 1,738 stocks reached 250-day highs in the past 20 trading days, with the highest numbers in the machinery, electronics, and pharmaceuticals sectors [2][13][22] - The manufacturing and technology sectors have the most stocks reaching new highs, with respective counts of 535 and 492 [15][22] - The proportion of stocks reaching new highs within various indices, such as the CSI 2000 and CSI 1000, is significant, with ratios of 32.50% and 32.30% respectively [15][22] Group 3: Stable High-Performing Stocks - The report identifies 50 stable high-performing stocks based on criteria such as analyst attention, price strength, and trend continuity, with a focus on technology and manufacturing sectors [3][19][23] - The technology sector has the highest number of stable high-performing stocks, particularly in the electronics industry, while the manufacturing sector is led by the machinery industry [19][24]

Group 1 - The core investment strategies in the US stock market include value investing, growth investing, trend following, day trading, and diversification [1][2][3] - Value investing focuses on identifying undervalued stocks through fundamental analysis, emphasizing long-term investment and the belief that stock prices will eventually reflect their intrinsic value [1] - Growth investing targets companies with high growth potential, often in emerging industries, and prioritizes future growth over current profitability, accepting higher risks for potentially higher returns [1] Group 2 - Trend following strategy involves monitoring stock price trends using technical analysis, where investors buy stocks in an upward trend and sell in a downward trend, requiring keen market insight [2] - Day trading is characterized by buying and selling stocks within the same trading day to capitalize on short-term price fluctuations, demanding high trading skills and real-time market awareness [2] - Diversification strategy aims to reduce risk by spreading investments across various industries and asset classes, helping to stabilize overall portfolio performance when certain stocks or sectors underperform [3]

- The "Hong Kong Stock Selection Portfolio" is constructed based on analyst recommendation events, including upward earnings revisions, initial coverage, and unexpected research report titles. Stocks are selected from the recommendation pool using fundamental and technical criteria to identify those with both fundamental support and technical resonance. The backtesting period is from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2025, with an annualized return of 19.11% and an excess return of 18.48% relative to the Hang Seng Index[14][15][19] - The "Stable New High Stock Screening Method" identifies stocks that have reached a 250-day high within the past 20 trading days. The screening criteria include analyst attention, relative stock strength, price path stability, and continuity of new highs. The formula for calculating the 250-day new high distance is: $ 250\text{-day new high distance} = 1 - \frac{\text{Close}_{t}}{\text{ts\_max(Close, 250)}} $ where $\text{Close}_{t}$ represents the latest closing price, and $\text{ts\_max(Close, 250)}$ is the maximum closing price over the past 250 trading days. A value of 0 indicates a new high, while positive values indicate the degree of fallback from the high[20][22][23] - Stocks are further filtered based on the following metrics: - Analyst attention: At least 5 buy or overweight ratings in the past 6 months - Relative stock strength: Top 20% in 250-day returns within the sample pool - Price path stability: Evaluated using metrics like price displacement ratio - Continuity of new highs: Average 250-day new high distance over the past 120 days and past 5 days[23][22][20] - The "Hong Kong Stock Selection Portfolio" achieved an absolute return of 6.90% and an excess return of 5.25% relative to the Hang Seng Index for the week of August 11-15, 2025. Year-to-date, the portfolio has delivered an absolute return of 61.44% and an excess return of 35.47%[17][19] - The annualized performance metrics for the "Hong Kong Stock Selection Portfolio" include an IR of 1.22, tracking error of 14.55%, and a maximum drawdown of 23.73%. The portfolio's return-to-drawdown ratio is 0.78[19] - The "Stable New High Stock Screening Method" identified 17 stocks in the pharmaceutical sector, followed by 8 in technology, 7 in consumer, 7 in financials, and 6 in cyclical industries. Examples include HeYu-B, which achieved a 250-day new high distance of 0.0% and a 447.9% return over the past 250 days[22][23][27]

Core Insights - Trend-following strategies, typically seen as safe havens during market turbulence, faced significant challenges in 2025, marking one of the worst performances since 1998 [1][2] - Quantitative funds employing complex algorithms to capture and follow asset price trends reported an average loss of 9.6% in the first half of the year, contrasting sharply with the hedge fund industry's average return of 4% and the S&P 500's total return of 6.2% [1] - Major hedge fund firms, including Man Group, experienced substantial pressure, with its flagship AHL Alpha fund down 7.8% as of June [1][3] Industry Challenges - The extreme market volatility, particularly due to unpredictable tariff policies and sudden market reversals, is identified as a core reason for the strategy's failure [2] - Trend-following strategies perform best in sustained directional markets, but the current environment of frequent and unclear "choppy markets" has rendered them ineffective [4] - The lag in algorithmic models, which require days or weeks to confirm market direction changes, makes them vulnerable to rapid price reversals [4] Company Performance - Man Group, a pioneer in trend-following strategies, is facing severe challenges, with its AHL Evolution fund losing over 10% and a 61% drop in performance fee revenue reported in its latest financial results [3][6] - The company's stock price has declined by over 20% this year, reflecting investor disappointment amid prolonged poor performance [3][6] - Despite the challenges, Man Group's management remains confident in the strategy's long-term viability, emphasizing that trend-following strategies have not failed [3][6] Historical Context - Trend-following strategies have a storied past, having proven their value during critical market events, such as the 2008 financial crisis and the downturn in 2022 [6] - The total assets managed by trend-following strategies have more than tripled over the past decade, currently standing at approximately $318 billion, accounting for about 7% of the hedge fund industry [6] - Investor sentiment has soured due to over 18 months of stagnant returns and significant drawdowns, yet some believe the rationale for investing in trend-following remains unchanged [6]

- The report introduces a quantitative model named "250-Day New High Distance" to track market trends and identify leading stocks. The model calculates the distance between the latest closing price and the highest closing price over the past 250 trading days using the formula: $ 250\text{-Day New High Distance} = 1 - \frac{\text{Close}_{t}}{\text{ts\_max(Close, 250)}} $ where $\text{Close}_{t}$ represents the latest closing price, and $\text{ts\_max(Close, 250)}$ is the maximum closing price in the past 250 trading days. If the latest closing price reaches a new high, the distance equals 0; otherwise, it indicates the percentage drop from the peak[10][11][12] - The report evaluates the model positively, citing its ability to capture momentum and trend-following strategies effectively. It references prior research, such as [George@2004] and insights from investment books like "Stock Market Wizard," which emphasize the importance of tracking stocks near their 52-week highs[10][18][21] - The report applies the model to major indices, showing their respective 250-Day New High Distances as of August 1, 2025: - Shanghai Composite Index: 1.54% - Shenzhen Component Index: 4.38% - CSI 300: 4.73% - CSI 500: 2.25% - CSI 1000: 1.53% - CSI 2000: 1.08% - ChiNext Index: 8.93% - STAR 50 Index: 7.99%[11][12][33] - The report identifies industries and concept indices close to their 250-Day New Highs, such as Media, Communication, Pharmaceuticals, Defense, and Steel. Concept indices like Wind Microcap Equal Weight, Electronic Equipment, CRO, and Innovative Drugs also show proximity to their 250-Day New Highs[12][14][33] - The report tracks stocks that have reached 250-Day New Highs in the past 20 trading days. A total of 1,239 stocks are identified, with the highest counts in industries like Pharmaceuticals (192 stocks), Machinery (169 stocks), and Basic Chemicals (132 stocks). The highest proportions are found in Banking (64.29%), Steel (56.60%), and Nonferrous Metals (41.94%)[19][20][34] - The report introduces a factor named "Stable New High Stocks," which selects stocks based on criteria such as analyst attention, relative price strength, price path smoothness, and sustained new highs. Specific metrics include: - Analyst attention: At least five buy or overweight ratings in the past three months - Relative price strength: Top 20% in 250-day returns - Price path smoothness: Evaluated using metrics like cumulative absolute daily returns over 120 days - Sustained new highs: Average 250-Day New High Distance over the past 120 days - Trend continuation: Average 250-Day New High Distance over the past five days[24][27][28] - The report lists 50 stocks selected as "Stable New High Stocks," with the highest counts in Manufacturing (15 stocks) and Technology (14 stocks). Examples include Shenghong Technology, Borui Pharmaceuticals, and Feilihua[28][32][34]

Group 1 - The report tracks stocks, industries, and sectors that are reaching new highs, serving as market indicators and highlighting the effectiveness of momentum and trend-following strategies [1][4] - As of August 1, 2025, the distance to the 250-day new high for major indices is as follows: Shanghai Composite Index at 1.54%, Shenzhen Component Index at 4.38%, CSI 300 at 4.73%, CSI 500 at 2.25%, CSI 1000 at 1.53%, CSI 2000 at 1.08%, ChiNext Index at 8.93%, and STAR Market 50 Index at 7.99% [6][25] - Among the CITIC first-level industry indices, Media, Communication, Pharmaceuticals, Defense, and Steel are closest to their 250-day new highs, while Food & Beverage, Coal, Real Estate, Home Appliances, and Transportation are further away [9][25] Group 2 - A total of 1,239 stocks reached a 250-day new high in the past 20 trading days, with the highest number of new highs in the Pharmaceuticals, Machinery, and Basic Chemicals sectors [2][14] - The sectors with the highest proportion of new high stocks are Banking, Steel, and Non-ferrous Metals, with respective proportions of 64.29%, 56.60%, and 41.94% [14][16] - The manufacturing and cyclical sectors had the most new high stocks this week, with 381 and 297 stocks respectively, while the proportion of new high stocks in the CSI 2000, CSI 1000, CSI 500, CSI 300, ChiNext, and STAR Market indices are 21.85%, 20.30%, 21.80%, 19.33%, 16.00%, and 14.00% respectively [16][25] Group 3 - The report identifies 50 stocks that have shown stable new highs, including Shenghong Technology, Borui Pharmaceuticals, and Feilihua, with the most new high stocks in the Manufacturing and Technology sectors, totaling 15 and 14 respectively [3][21][26] - The Machinery industry had the highest number of new highs within the Manufacturing sector, while the Electronics industry led in the Technology sector [21][26]

Core Concepts - Trend following is not blind speculation; it emphasizes acting in accordance with market trends and avoiding counter-trend operations [1] - Price reflects all fundamentals, sentiment, and policies, ultimately manifesting in price trends [2] - Cut losses quickly and let profits run; quickly stop losses on losing trades while holding profitable trades until the trend ends [3] - Trends have inertia; once established, they are more likely to continue than to reverse [4] - Do not predict; instead, react to market signals and follow trends [5] Trend Identification - Moving Average System: A bullish signal occurs when a short-term moving average crosses above a long-term moving average (e.g., 5-day > 20-day) [6] - Channel Breakout: Enter long when price breaks above the N-day high and short when it breaks below the N-day low [6] - Momentum Indicators: An expanding MACD histogram indicates trend acceleration [6] - Trend Structure: Higher highs and higher lows indicate an uptrend, while lower highs and lower lows indicate a downtrend [6] - Volatility Confirmation: A breakout of the Average True Range (ATR) from recent averages signals trend initiation [6] Strategy Execution - Entry Rules: Enter trades on price breakouts with increased volume or on pullbacks to moving averages [7] - Position Sizing: Limit single trade risk to 1% of total capital [7] - Stop Loss Settings: Use volatility-based stops (±2 times ATR) or structural stops based on previous highs/lows [7] - Profit Taking Logic: Implement trailing stops based on a percentage retracement from the highest price [7] - Multi-Market Adaptation: Different strategies for various asset classes, such as focusing on moving averages for stock index futures and momentum indicators for cryptocurrencies [7] Risk Management - Diversification: Hold 5-10 non-correlated trend positions simultaneously [8] - Leverage Control: Limit futures leverage to 5 times and cryptocurrency leverage to 3 times [8] - Drawdown Triggers: Enforce a 50% reduction in positions if account drawdown reaches 15% [8] - Correlation Monitoring: Reduce positions if the correlation coefficient among holdings exceeds 0.7 [8] Cognitive Misconceptions - Trend following is not equivalent to long-term holding; exit immediately when a trend ends [9] - Holding periods typically range from days to months, not high-frequency trading [9] - Avoid over-optimization, which can lead to failure in real trading [9] - Emotional interference can lead to premature exits; adhere to trailing stops [9] Practical Cases - Oil Price Crash 2020: Trend signals indicated a short position after breaking the 200-day moving average [10] - Nvidia AI Surge 2024: Trend initiation was confirmed by a weekly MACD crossover [10] - Federal Reserve Rate Hikes: The dollar index rose 15% during the 2022 rate hike cycle, validating breakout strategies [10] - Bitcoin Halving Trends: Historical data shows significant price increases following halving events [10]

Quantitative Models and Construction Methods - **Model Name**: Hong Kong Stock Selection Portfolio Strategy **Model Construction Idea**: The strategy is based on a dual-layer selection process that combines fundamental and technical analysis to identify outperforming stocks from an analyst-recommended stock pool[14][15] **Model Construction Process**: 1. **Analyst Recommendation Pool**: Constructed using three types of analyst recommendation events: upward earnings revisions, first-time coverage, and research reports with unexpected positive titles[15] 2. **Fundamental and Technical Screening**: Stocks in the recommendation pool are further filtered based on fundamental support and technical resonance to identify stocks with both strong fundamentals and positive technical trends[15] 3. **Backtesting**: The backtesting period spans from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2025, assuming a fully invested portfolio with transaction costs considered[15] **Model Evaluation**: The strategy demonstrates strong performance with significant excess returns over the Hang Seng Index[15] - **Model Name**: Stable New High Stock Screening **Model Construction Idea**: This model leverages momentum and trend-following strategies, focusing on stocks that have recently reached 250-day highs and exhibit stable price paths[20][22] **Model Construction Process**: 1. **250-Day High Distance Calculation**: $ 250\text{-day high distance} = 1 - \frac{\text{Close}_{\text{latest}}}{\text{ts\_max(Close, 250)}} $ Where $\text{Close}_{\text{latest}}$ is the latest closing price, and $\text{ts\_max(Close, 250)}$ is the maximum closing price over the past 250 trading days[22] 2. **Screening Criteria**: - Stocks must have reached a 250-day high in the past 20 trading days - Analyst coverage: At least five "Buy" or "Overweight" ratings in the past six months - Relative strength: Top 20% in 250-day returns among all Hong Kong stocks - Stability: Evaluated using metrics such as price path smoothness and the time-series average of the 250-day high distance over the past 120 days[22][23] 3. **Final Selection**: The top 50 stocks based on stability and trend continuation metrics are selected[23] **Model Evaluation**: The model effectively identifies stocks with strong momentum and stable price trends, aligning with the principles of momentum investing[20][22] Model Backtesting Results - **Hong Kong Stock Selection Portfolio Strategy**: - Annualized Return: 19.11% - Excess Return over Hang Seng Index: 18.48% - Information Ratio (IR): 1.22 - Maximum Drawdown: 23.73%[15][19] - **Stable New High Stock Screening**: - Not explicitly quantified in the report, but the model identifies stocks with strong recent performance and stable price paths, such as those in the financial, healthcare, and consumer sectors[22][23] Quantitative Factors and Construction Methods - **Factor Name**: 250-Day High Distance **Factor Construction Idea**: Measures the proximity of the latest closing price to the highest closing price in the past 250 trading days, capturing momentum and trend-following characteristics[22] **Factor Construction Process**: $ 250\text{-day high distance} = 1 - \frac{\text{Close}_{\text{latest}}}{\text{ts\_max(Close, 250)}} $ - If the latest closing price reaches a new high, the factor value is 0 - If the price has fallen from the high, the factor value is positive, indicating the degree of pullback[22] **Factor Evaluation**: This factor is effective in identifying stocks with strong momentum and limited pullbacks, which are likely to continue their upward trends[22] Factor Backtesting Results - **250-Day High Distance**: - Specific performance metrics are not provided, but the factor is used to screen stocks with strong momentum and stable trends, contributing to the selection of outperforming stocks in the financial, healthcare, and consumer sectors[22][23]

Group 1 - The report tracks stocks, industries, and sectors that are reaching new highs, indicating market trends and hotspots [1][4] - As of July 11, 2025, the distance to the 250-day new high for major indices is as follows: Shanghai Composite Index 0.00%, Shenzhen Component Index 6.95%, CSI 300 5.67%, CSI 500 4.79%, CSI 1000 2.28%, CSI 2000 0.00%, ChiNext Index 13.46%, and STAR Market 11.75% [5][24] - The sectors closest to their 250-day new highs include Power and Utilities, Steel, Comprehensive Finance, Pharmaceuticals, and Non-ferrous Metals, while Food and Beverage, Coal, Consumer Services, Automotive, and Oil and Petrochemicals are further away [8][24] Group 2 - A total of 873 stocks reached a 250-day new high in the past 20 trading days, with the most significant numbers in Basic Chemicals, Machinery, and Pharmaceuticals [2][13] - The highest proportion of new high stocks is found in Banking, Comprehensive Finance, and National Defense and Military Industry, with respective proportions of 90.48%, 40.00%, and 33.61% [13] - The manufacturing and cyclical sectors had the most new high stocks this week, with 245 and 233 stocks respectively [15] Group 3 - The report identifies 38 stocks that are considered stable new highs, including Shenghong Technology, Beijing North, and Nanhua Futures, with the most in the Manufacturing and Technology sectors [3][21] - The Manufacturing sector had the highest number of new highs, particularly in the National Defense and Military Industry, while the Technology sector saw the most in the Electronics industry [21][25]