Report Overview - The report is a semi - annual report on quantitative CTA strategies, reviewing the market in the first half of 2025 and providing an outlook [1] Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the given content Core Views - In 2025, the commodity market showed significant structural differentiation, with strong demand for precious metals as a safe - haven and continuous decline in energy, chemical, and black sectors due to weak fundamentals. Macro event risks still exist, short - cycle strategies have relatively high certainty, cross - sectional strategies have potential, and equity index CTA may remain dormant [2][3] Summary by Relevant Catalogs 1. Commodity Market Performance Overview 1.1 Precious Metals' Safe - Haven Attribute Highlights, Industrial Goods Sector Driven by Weak Reality - The commodity market presented a significant structural differentiation pattern. By May 30, 2025, the Nanhua Commodity Index fell 5.88%, the Nanhua Agricultural Products Index rose 1.58%, the Nanhua Energy and Chemical Index dropped 14.57%, the Nanhua Precious Metals Index increased 18.21%, the Nanhua Non - ferrous Metals Index rose 0.16%, and the Nanhua Black Index declined 13.18%. In Q1, the chemical and precious metals sectors led the rise, but then black and chemical sectors fell rapidly. In Q2, black and energy - chemical sectors continued to decline, and precious metals fluctuated at a high level [6] 1.2 Trading Volume Recovered, Tariff Fluctuations Caused Strong Volatility Changes - As of May 30, the trading volume of active varieties was at the 70th percentile historically, and the position amount was at the 85th percentile. Trading and position volumes increased slightly compared to last year, which is slightly beneficial for short - cycle CTA. The Nanhua Commodity Index volatility was affected by the US tariff policy in April 2025. Cross - sectional CTA performed well due to the stable strength - weakness relationship between commodity sectors and varieties [11][14][16] 2. Performance of CTA Strategy Lines 2.1 Commodity Trend Strategies Under Pressure, Composite Strategies Relatively Advantageous - The performance of commodity trend strategies was positively correlated with commodity market volatility. In Q1, strategies suffered losses due to low volatility. In Q2, they recovered with the increase in volatility but started to lose again in May. Cross - sectional strategies outperformed trend strategies due to the stable strength - weakness relationship between commodity sectors. Composite strategies' net value increased continuously in Q2 [20][21] 2.2 Equity Index CTA Gains Concentrated in Q1, Losses Continued in Q2 - Since the beginning of the year, the volatility of equity indices has been decreasing. Except for the "Deepseek" market after the Spring Festival and the impact of the tariff event in early April, the intraday and inter - day volatility of equity indices was at a historical low by the end of May. Equity index CTA suffered continuous losses in Q2, and high - frequency equity index strategies also underperformed last year [24] 3. Performance of Mainstream CTA Factors 3.1 Factors First Declined Then Rose, with Continuous Differentiation - In Q1, factors were under pressure due to low - volatility market conditions. In Q2, both fundamental and price - volume factors recovered with the increase in market volatility. Since May, price - volume factors showed differentiation, with long - term cross - sectional and long - term momentum factors performing better than short - term ones. Most factors had positive returns in precious metals and black sectors and negative returns in agricultural and energy sectors [29][35] 3.2 Gold and Industrial Silicon Significantly Contributed to the Returns of Trend Factors - Gold and industrial silicon showed smooth upward or downward trends this year, contributing significantly to the positive returns of trend factors. Managers with heavy positions in these varieties may perform better than those with equal - weighted positions in all varieties [37] 4. Changes in the CTA Market This Year 4.1 Pursuit of "Quasi - Alpha" Driven by Absolute Returns - From 2022 - 2023, after a long period of strategy wear - and - tear, investors' expectations for quantitative CTA strategies shifted from "high - leverage, high - return" to "seeking stable returns". Some managers tried to obtain "quasi - Alpha" returns by controlling risk factor exposures, but the methodology needs long - term observation and verification [40] 4.2 Subjective Adjustments by Managers May Be Cost - Effective - In 2025, the commodity market had a structured market, and some varieties contributed positive returns to trend - following strategies. In the context of macro uncertainties, subjective adjustments by managers may optimize risk exposure and capture high - odds opportunities [41] 4.3 Variety Selection May Be an Important Factor in Performance Differences Among Managers - In 2025, the futures market presented structural opportunities. Varieties on the GME, such as industrial silicon and lithium carbonate, showed smooth trends and contributed significant returns. Managers who actively deployed in new markets and captured these opportunities had better performance [42] 5. Outlook for the CTA Market in the Second Half of 2025 5.1 Macro Event Risks Still Exist, Short - Cycle Strategies Have Relatively High Certainty - In the second half of 2025, macro uncertainties may continue to ferment, and the commodity market is likely to maintain a wide - range differentiated pattern. Medium - and long - term trend - following strategies face a challenging market environment, while short - cycle strategies may have opportunities by capturing short - term fluctuations [43][44] 5.2 Cross - Sectional Strategies Still Have Potential - In the second half of 2025, the differentiation between commodity sectors is expected to intensify, providing a suitable environment for cross - sectional strategies. However, managers need to be vigilant against strategy drawdown risks caused by changes in the strength - weakness relationship between commodities [45] 5.3 Equity Index CTA May Remain Dormant - Since Q2, equity index CTA has been under pressure. In the second half of 2025, low volatility and broken trends will continue to squeeze the profit space of equity index CTA. It is difficult for this strategy to get out of the dilemma without substantial policy changes [47]