Market Performance - The A-share market maintained a strong performance last week, with major indices rising, particularly the CSI 500 which led with a 3.28% increase, while the CSI 1000 rose over 2.36% [1] - The construction materials, steel, non-ferrous metals, engineering machinery, and coal sectors showed significant gains, each exceeding 6%, while banking and diversified finance sectors experienced declines, indicating a clear rotation of market hotspots [3] - Northbound capital saw a substantial net sell-off totaling 69.817 billion RMB for the week, with notable sell-offs on July 23 and July 25 amounting to 41.445 billion RMB and 40.696 billion RMB respectively, reflecting a cautious attitude from foreign investors as the index approached 3600 points [3] Key Industry News - The photovoltaic sector has shown remarkable performance, with silicon wafer prices rising significantly from July 21 to 24. The average transaction price for N-type G10L monocrystalline wafers increased by 4.76% to 1.1 RMB per piece, while N-type G12R wafers surged by 870% to 1.25 RMB per piece, and N-type G12 wafers rose by 6.67% to 1.44 RMB per piece [4] - Longjiang Securities noted that the photovoltaic industry, facing severe supply-demand imbalances and profit pressures, is expected to benefit from recent policy enhancements aimed at regulating low-price competition and promoting the orderly exit of outdated production capacities [4] Future Market Outlook - Longjiang Securities' senior investment advisor Liu Lang observed that the market maintained a bullish sentiment, with the Shanghai Composite Index fluctuating around 3600 points and the Shenzhen Component Index and ChiNext Index reaching new highs for the year [5] - The market style is shifting, with significant capital inflow into lower-priced technology stocks, particularly in the semiconductor and AI sectors, which collectively attracted over 10 billion RMB, driving the STAR 50 Index to surpass its May high [6] - Key macroeconomic data indicated a decline in profits for industrial enterprises, with total profits for the first half of the year at 34,365 billion RMB, down 1.8% year-on-year, and a 4.3% decline in June [6] - The China Securities Regulatory Commission emphasized the need to consolidate the market's recovery and promote long-term capital inflow, alongside reforms in public funds and mergers and acquisitions [6] Agricultural and Insurance Developments - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, along with ten other departments, issued a plan to promote agricultural product consumption, focusing on optimizing supply, innovating circulation, and activating market demand [7] - The insurance industry announced a reduction in the guaranteed interest rates for traditional life insurance products, with rates adjusted from 2.5% to 2.0% for ordinary life insurance and from 2% to 1.75% for participating insurance [7] AI Innovations - Tesla showcased its latest advancements in AI at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, including smart electric vehicles and humanoid robots, highlighting the deployment of its Robotaxi service based on a visual architecture [8] - Alibaba introduced its self-developed AI glasses, "Quark AI Glasses," which integrate various functionalities and support multiple applications within the Alibaba ecosystem [8] Investment Strategy - From a medium to long-term perspective, technology sectors such as robotics, semiconductors, and AI applications are recommended for investment due to improved cost-effectiveness after a three-month correction [8] - The "anti-involution" sectors, including photovoltaic, lithium battery, automotive, steel, construction materials, coal, and pork, are also highlighted as potential investment opportunities [8] - The non-ferrous metals sector is showing signs of a "dilemma reversal," with noticeable profit improvements in cyclical industries [8]

Macro News - The State Council, led by Premier Li Qiang, has initiated measures to gradually implement free preschool education, emphasizing the need for local governments to refine work plans and ensure timely funding allocation [4] - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is soliciting public opinions on the revised Corporate Governance Code, which aims to enhance the supervision of directors and senior management, and improve incentive and restraint mechanisms [5][6] - The Ministry of Finance reported that in the first half of 2025, the national general public budget expenditure reached 14,127.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.4%, while revenue decreased by 0.3% to 11,556.6 billion yuan [6] - The National Bureau of Statistics indicated that in June, the profit decline of industrial enterprises above designated size narrowed compared to May, with rapid profit growth in new momentum industries like equipment manufacturing [6] Industry News - The Insurance Association announced that the current standard interest rate for ordinary life insurance products is 1.99%, leading major life insurance companies to adjust their rates downwards [9] - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, along with ten other departments, released a plan to promote agricultural product consumption, focusing on optimizing supply, innovating circulation, and activating market demand [9] - The China Pesticide Industry Association has launched a three-year campaign to address issues like hidden additives and illegal production in the pesticide industry, aiming to curb disorderly competition [9] - The Chinese government has proposed the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, with Shanghai as a potential headquarters [10] - The Shanghai land auction set a new record for residential land prices, with a floor price of 200,257 yuan per square meter [11] Company News - China Duty Free Group reported a total revenue of 28.151 billion yuan for the first half of 2025, a year-on-year decline of 9.96%, with net profit down 20.81% to 2.6 billion yuan [14] - Huayou Cobalt announced plans to acquire a 49% stake in Wuhan Junheng Technology through a combination of stock issuance and cash payment, marking a significant asset restructuring [14] - Several companies, including *ST Muban and Taiyuan Heavy Industry, received notices from the CSRC regarding investigations into alleged financial misconduct and information disclosure violations [16][17] - Shijiazhuang Railway announced a cooperation agreement with the Guangzhou Municipal Government for the Guangzhou East Station renovation project, with a total investment of approximately 16.66 billion yuan [12]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Overweight" indicating that the industry is expected to outperform the overall market [7][25]. Core Insights - The report highlights that the scheduled adjustment of the predetermined interest rate is expected to positively impact the optimization of liability costs and the value of participating insurance options [3][6]. - The predetermined interest rate for ordinary life insurance products has been set at 1.99%, which is 51 basis points below the upper limit of 2.5%, triggering a required adjustment [4][5]. - The adjustment of the predetermined interest rates for various insurance products has been implemented, with ordinary products reduced by 50 basis points to 2.0%, and participating products by 25 basis points to 1.75% [5][6]. - The report emphasizes the importance of managing liability costs and the transformation of participating insurance products as key factors influencing company valuations [6][7]. Summary by Sections Predetermined Interest Rate Adjustments - The report notes that the predetermined interest rate research value has exceeded the upper limit for two consecutive quarters, necessitating a reduction in new product rates by September 1 [4]. - The adjustments made by major insurers like Ping An and China Life reflect a strategic response to market conditions and regulatory requirements [5]. Valuation and Performance - The report suggests that the core concern affecting the valuation of life insurance companies is the risk of interest spread losses, with a focus on controlling liability costs [6]. - The report provides data on the new business value (NBV) break-even yield for major insurers, indicating slight year-over-year declines for companies like China Life and Ping An [6]. Market Outlook - The report expresses optimism regarding the insurance sector's performance, driven by declining new liability costs, increased value of participating insurance options, and stable long-term interest rates [7]. - Specific companies recommended for investment include China Life, New China Life, China Pacific Insurance, China People’s Insurance, Ping An, ZhongAn Online, and China Property Insurance [7].