Market Performance - The A-share market opened lower but closed higher, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising by 0.43%. The banking sector showed strength, with Hu'nong Commercial Bank hitting a three-year high and Hangzhou Bank and CITIC Bank reaching historical peaks [1] - The Hong Kong stock market saw the Hang Seng Index increase by 1.53% and the Hang Seng Tech Index by 1.08%. Major banks like ICBC, CCB, ABC, and CMB saw their stocks rise nearly 3% [2] ETF and Investment Trends - Year-to-date, the CMB ETF has increased by over 16%, while the banking ETF has risen by over 10%. Insurance capital has initiated a new wave of stock acquisitions in 2024, with banks being the most frequently targeted sector [3][4] - In May, the banking sector outperformed, with a cumulative increase of 6.05%, surpassing the CSI 300 Index by 4.2 percentage points. The valuation of state-owned banks remained resilient, while valuations of joint-stock and city commercial banks increased [3] Regional Bank Performance - The leading banks in the A-share market in May were primarily small and medium-sized banks from Shandong and Chongqing, with Qingdao Bank, Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank, and Chongqing Bank showing significant gains [4] - The strong performance of these banks is attributed to high growth in net profit and favorable regional development policies, leading to robust credit issuance [4] Insurance Capital Allocation - As of Q1 2025, the total scale of insurance fund utilization reached 34.93 trillion yuan, reflecting a 5.03% increase from the previous year. The allocation towards bonds has increased, while the share of stocks has also risen [5] - The banking sector is expected to attract more long-term capital, with a focus on dividend strategies and the potential for improved asset quality due to supportive policies [5]