Report Industry Investment Rating No information is provided in the content regarding the report's industry investment rating. Core Views of the Report - Interest rate swap curve inversions are mainly caused by economic fundamentals and capital price/liquidity factors, and in most cases, they can predict central bank reserve requirement ratio cuts and interest rate cuts, especially when reflecting market expectations of economic downturn and policy easing [2][67][68]. - The end of interest rate swap inversions usually means changes in the driving factors, which can be due to improved economic fundamentals, alleviated capital tightness, or implemented monetary policies. However, the monetary easing cycle may not stop immediately after the inversion ends [5][69]. - Interest rate swap inversions are not a necessary condition for monetary easing, which may be related to the central bank's control over inter - bank repo rates and the steeper yield curve after de - leveraging [6][70]. - When an interest rate swap curve inversion occurs, especially accompanied by weak economic fundamentals, it is a strong signal of future monetary policy easing. Investors and policymakers can use this signal to make decisions [7]. Summary by Directory I. Interest Rate Swap Curve Historical Inversion Situation Review - **2011 Inversion**: Occurred in August. On August 19, 5Y - 1Y/2Y - 1Y spreads turned negative. The deepest negative spreads of 5Y - 1Y and 2Y - 1Y were - 55.63bp and - 34.93bp respectively on September 6, 2011. High inflation in 2011 led to a tight monetary policy at first, but with inflation and economic growth down in Q3, long - term bond and IRS rates dropped rapidly under the expectation of monetary easing. The central bank cut the reserve requirement ratio in November [14][16]. - **2012 Inversion**: Had two rounds. The first was from the beginning of 2012 to mid - May, caused by capital rate fluctuations and easing expectations. The second was from July 11 to October 12, caused by reserve requirement ratio cut expectations due to weakening fundamentals. The end of the second inversion was related to the improvement of economic fundamentals [25][26][30]. - **2013 Inversion**: Concentrated in June. Due to tightened capital caused by factors like decreased foreign exchange inflows and the central bank's tight policy stance, it reached the extreme on June 20. The inversion ended after the central bank provided liquidity support on June 25 [36][38][39]. - **2015 Inversion**: Initially occurred at the end of 2014 and concentrated from late January to the end of March. It was caused by capital fluctuations and tightness during the New Year period and the stock market's "bull market". The inversion ended as capital prices dropped rapidly [43][44][51]. II. Whether the Interest Rate Swap Curve Can Predict Interest Rate Cuts - **2011**: The inversion predicted the central bank's reserve requirement ratio cut and interest rate cut, and foreshadowed a monetary easing cycle [54]. - **2012**: The first inversion accurately predicted reserve requirement ratio cuts, and the second predicted interest rate cuts [55]. - **2013**: The inversion did not predict reserve requirement ratio cuts or interest rate cuts due to the "cash crunch" [56]. - **2015**: The inversion predicted subsequent reserve requirement ratio cuts and interest rate cuts. The end of the inversion did not mean the end of monetary easing [57][59]. III. Summary - **Reasons and Characteristics of Interest Rate Swap Curve Inversion**: Mainly caused by economic fundamentals (such as economic slowdown and inflation decline) and capital price/liquidity factors (such as capital tightness) [67]. - **Prediction Effect of Interest Rate Swap Curve on Reserve Requirement Ratio Cuts and Interest Rate Cuts**: In most cases, it can predict reserve requirement ratio cuts and interest rate cuts, especially when reflecting economic downturn and policy easing expectations. It may lead the monetary easing cycle [68]. - **Meaning of the End of Interest Rate Swap Inversion**: It usually means changes in the driving factors, including improved economic fundamentals, alleviated capital tightness, or implemented monetary policies [69]. - **Interest Rate Swap Inversion Is Not a Necessary Condition for Monetary Easing**: This may be related to the central bank's control over inter - bank repo rates and the steeper yield curve after de - leveraging [70]. - **How to Use the Swap Inversion Signal**: When an inversion occurs, especially with weak economic fundamentals, it signals future monetary policy easing. Investors and policymakers can use it as a reference [71].