Core Viewpoint - Since the "9·24" market rally, small-cap funds have seen an average return of over 84%, with more than half of the products now subject to purchase restrictions [2][6]. Performance Summary - The A-share market has shown strong upward movement, with the Shanghai Composite Index surpassing the previous high of 3674 points set on October 8 last year, reaching a nearly four-year high since December 14, 2021 [4]. - The Wind data indicates that since September 24 last year, the Wind Micro-Cap Index has surged by 120.96%, with a year-to-date increase of 55.71%. The ChiNext Small Cap Index and the CSI 2000 Index have risen by 83% and 68%, respectively, ranking among the top two in performance among 20 national indices [4]. - As of August 15, 39 small-cap funds have achieved an average return of 84.6%, with 12 funds exceeding a 100% increase in net value [4]. Fund Purchase Restrictions - With rising net values, the number of small-cap funds imposing purchase restrictions has increased. Currently, 21 small-cap funds are either suspended from new subscriptions or large subscriptions, accounting for nearly 54% [7]. - The average fund size of small-cap funds is relatively small, with most below 4 billion yuan, and 32 funds having sizes under 1 billion yuan [8]. Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - The underlying logic for the excess returns of small-cap stocks is attributed to policy catalysts, liquidity easing, valuation recovery, and capital speculation. In a weak economic recovery environment, small and medium-sized enterprises are seen as innovation carriers [5]. - There are differing opinions on the future performance of small-cap stocks. Some believe that small-cap styles will continue to outperform due to market sentiment, liquidity environment, industry trends, and policy benefits [8]. - However, skepticism exists regarding the sustainability of small-cap stock gains, with concerns about high price-to-earnings ratios and the reliance on liquidity rather than earnings growth [9].