Core Viewpoint - The trend of fund companies shutting down their mobile apps is accelerating, driven by high operational costs and declining user engagement, leading to a shift towards simplified operational strategies in the industry [1][6]. Group 1: Industry Trends - Since 2019, several mid-sized public fund companies have closed their independent app operations, including Qianhai Kaiyuan Fund and Guoshou Anbao Fund [1]. - The overall pressure on fund apps includes shrinking net values, declining monthly active users (MAU), and low operational scales [1]. - The initial goal of fund companies developing their own apps was to reduce reliance on third-party distribution channels, but this has changed due to high maintenance costs and limited direct sales revenue [1][5]. Group 2: User Engagement Data - In the first half of 2025, only five fund apps saw positive growth in monthly active users: E Fund e-Wallet (+26,300 to 138,600), Huaxia Fund Manager (+23,800 to 102,600), and others [2]. - Conversely, many fund apps are experiencing significant user losses, with Tianhong Fund's app dropping to 40,800 MAU, about one-third of its user base three years ago [2]. - Other fund apps, such as Bosera and Xingsheng Global, also reported declines of over 10,000 MAU [2]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The competitive landscape shows that brokerage apps maintain higher user engagement, with monthly active users in the hundreds of thousands, contrasting sharply with fund apps [2][5]. - The top-performing brokerage app, "Zhang Le Cai Fu Tong," had 10.97 million MAU, while the second, Ping An Securities, had 8.14 million [5]. - The decline in user numbers for fund apps is attributed to the siphoning effect of third-party distribution platforms, which have rapidly grown due to their traffic and product offerings [5][6]. Group 4: Regulatory Impact - The China Securities Regulatory Commission's 2025 action plan encourages fund companies to optimize resource allocation and reduce inefficient investments, further accelerating the trend of app closures [6]. - The industry is transitioning from "heavy asset direct sales" to "lightweight operations," with a focus on cost-effective models [6]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The future of direct sales channels in public funds is expected to diversify, with smaller institutions likely abandoning independent apps in favor of lighter platforms like WeChat services and official websites [6]. - The industry is predicted to deepen investment advisory services, enhancing competitiveness through professional services and brand building rather than high-frequency trading [6].