Core Viewpoint - Despite a pullback in the Hong Kong stock market, southbound capital has surged, with a record net inflow of 358.76 billion HKD on August 15, 2025, surpassing the total inflow for the previous two weeks combined [2][3]. Group 1: Southbound Capital Inflow - Year-to-date, southbound capital has seen a cumulative net inflow exceeding 938.9 billion HKD, surpassing the total for the entire year of 2024 within just eight months [2][3]. - The recent trend shows a significant shift in investment strategy, with a focus on high-dividend financial stocks and growth sectors such as technology and healthcare [2][4]. Group 2: Sector Preferences - In the past month, net purchases by southbound capital in the financial, information technology, and healthcare sectors reached 482.2 billion HKD, 317.48 billion HKD, and 238.54 billion HKD, respectively, while there was a net sell-off of 220.05 billion HKD in the consumer discretionary sector [4][5]. - Notable stock performances include significant gains in pharmaceutical and brokerage stocks, indicating a shift in market sentiment despite overall market declines [5]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The influx of southbound capital is attributed to the valuation gap in the Hong Kong market, which has been in a prolonged correction phase, making it attractive for mainland investors seeking quality assets [6]. - The phenomenon of "asset scarcity" is also driving this trend, as there is a surplus of capital in mainland China with limited high-quality investment opportunities available [6]. Group 4: Market Influence and Pricing Power - In 2024, southbound capital accounted for approximately 34.64% of the total trading volume in the Hong Kong stock market, a significant increase from previous years [7]. - While southbound capital is gaining influence, it still faces challenges in achieving absolute pricing power due to the dominant position of foreign capital and market mechanisms such as short selling [8][9]. - The share of southbound capital in small-cap and high-dividend stocks is notable, with a significant portion of the top 15 stocks being high-dividend payers [9].

Core Insights - Hong Kong market plays a crucial role in facilitating corporate overseas expansion, capital repatriation, and the internationalization of the Renminbi, with policy support reinforcing its status as an international financial center [1] - The southbound trading of high-dividend stocks in the Hong Kong Stock Connect has reached a 40% transaction share, indicating a significant enhancement in the pricing power of Chinese enterprises [1] - The long-term average premium of A-shares over H-shares is below 25%, with a potential decline to 26% or lower within the year, driven by a weakening US dollar [1] Industry Analysis - Continuous improvement in corporate earnings is observed, with the MSCI China Index EPS rising for three consecutive years, providing fundamental support for Hong Kong stock performance [1] - Cyclical industries such as coal and cement may experience accelerated bottoming due to the "anti-involution" trend, while sectors like social services, textiles, and aviation are currently undervalued and in a high prosperity phase [1] - The technology sector in Hong Kong is viewed as a core asset for both domestic and foreign investors, exhibiting growth potential beyond economic cycles, with current valuations at low levels and significant room for recovery [1] Investment Products - The Hong Kong Stock Connect High Dividend ETF (159331) tracks the high dividend index (930914), focusing on stocks with high dividend yields and stable returns, primarily from traditional sectors like finance and real estate [1] - Investors without stock accounts can consider the Cathay CSI Hong Kong Stock Connect High Dividend Investment ETF Initiated Link A (022274) and Link C (022275) [2]

Group 1 - The report introduces a "two-step" framework to analyze the funding landscape of the Hong Kong stock market, categorizing funds into long-term and short-term foreign capital, domestic capital, and Hong Kong capital [1][8][9] - Despite a marginal decline in the proportion of foreign capital, it continues to dominate the Hong Kong stock market, accounting for over 60% of the total funding, with stable foreign capital holding approximately 11.6 trillion HKD and flexible foreign capital around 5.2 trillion HKD as of May 13, 2025 [19][22][24] - The report highlights a significant increase in the proportion of southbound funds, which have gained marginal pricing power in the Hong Kong market, with their market value share rising from 8% in September 2020 to 20% by May 2025 [24][25][38] Group 2 - The trading behaviors of different funding types in the Hong Kong stock market exhibit clear differences, with stable foreign capital favoring long-term holdings, while flexible foreign capital tends to engage in short-term speculation [30][31] - Southbound funds show a lower turnover rate and a tendency to buy on dips, indicating a contrarian investment strategy, with a negative correlation between their net buying and the Hang Seng Index's performance [31][37] - Recent trends indicate that since March 2025, while foreign capital has been flowing out, southbound funds have been consistently flowing in, with a record net purchase of 356 billion HKD on April 9, 2025 [37][38]