Core Viewpoint - The significant increase in the scale of standard trust products is driven by both the accelerated transformation of the industry and the flexibility advantages of standard trust products, alongside the performance of the bond market [1][2]. Group 1: Scale Growth Driven by "Borrowing Path" - The growth in scale due to the "borrowing path" has lost its momentum as regulatory measures have been implemented to eliminate institutional arbitrage and fill regulatory gaps [2][3]. - The lack of specific regulatory guidelines for standard trust products allows for greater operational flexibility compared to public funds and bank wealth management products, attracting significant capital inflows, particularly from low-risk preference bank wealth management funds [2][3]. - The collaboration between bank wealth management and trust companies has led to a win-win situation, where bank products achieve stable net values while trust companies earn channel fees and increase their scale [2][3]. Group 2: Risks Associated with "Borrowing Path" - The "borrowing path" presents significant risks that are accumulating rapidly, prompting regulatory scrutiny [3][4]. - Issues such as inappropriate use of smoothing mechanisms and trading risk assets between different wealth management products can lead to mismatched risks and potential losses for investors [4][5]. - Regulatory interventions aim to address these risks, ensuring compliance and protecting investors from unfair practices [6][9]. Group 3: Scale Growth Driven by Strong Performance - The increase in the scale of standard trust products is also attributed to the accelerated transformation of trust companies towards standard trust products and the favorable bond market conditions in 2024 [13][14]. - Trust companies are leveraging their experience in the municipal investment sector to enhance their bond investment strategies, leading to higher-than-average returns in their standard trust products [14][15]. - The current low-risk yield environment and the preference for low-volatility bonds have further contributed to the influx of capital into standard trust products, achieving historical highs in industry scale [15]. Group 4: Regulatory Landscape and Future Outlook - Regulatory measures are focused on eliminating institutional arbitrage and ensuring fair competition among asset management institutions, which is essential for guiding them back to their investment roots [10][11]. - The future challenges for trust companies include finding new business opportunities in a declining yield environment and enhancing their active investment management capabilities [15][16]. - The ongoing regulatory efforts aim to protect investors and promote a better understanding of risk-return characteristics in fixed-income products, fostering a mature capital market [10][11].