Core Viewpoint - The new regulations significantly impact high-frequency trading strategies, leading to a systematic compression of their survival space in the market [1][4]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - The implementation of the "Procedural Trading Management Implementation Rules" marks the beginning of a strong regulatory era for algorithmic trading in China's capital markets [2]. - The new rules define high-frequency trading as submitting or withdrawing orders exceeding 300 times per second or 20,000 times per day, imposing differentiated fees for exceeding these thresholds [6][7]. - The regulations also outline four types of abnormal trading behaviors, although specific standards for triggering these behaviors have not been clearly defined [7]. Group 2: Impact on Trading Strategies - Many private equity firms have already begun modifying their trading algorithms in response to the new regulations, with one firm reducing its order submission rate from 400 to 30 per second, resulting in a potential annualized return loss of 0.8% for each frequency reduction [3][4]. - The new rules have led to a general increase in costs for day trading strategies among small and medium-sized quantitative private equity firms, with costs rising by approximately 30% [15]. - Some firms are developing new strategies that incorporate macroeconomic factors, such as low-frequency CTA strategies, which have shown a potential 40% reduction in annualized volatility during backtesting [16]. Group 3: Industry Transformation - The new regulations are expected to reshape the industry ecosystem, with high-frequency strategies being less prevalent in overall quantitative AUM but serving as a critical survival tool for smaller private equity firms [14][13]. - The tightening of regulations is anticipated to accelerate the process of industry consolidation, compelling managers to strengthen their competitive advantages [19]. - The future of the quantitative industry will likely see a shift towards more refined competition, focusing on client service capabilities, product design, and post-investment returns [18].

Core Viewpoint - The new regulations on algorithmic trading, effective from July 7, 2023, aim to impose precise supervision on high-frequency trading and strict constraints on abnormal trading, reshaping the market ecology and promoting the standardized development of the quantitative industry [1][4][19]. Summary by Relevant Sections High-Frequency Trading Regulation - The new regulations define high-frequency trading as any account making 300 or more orders per second or exceeding 20,000 orders per day, which will be subject to differentiated fees and additional reporting requirements [3][5][14]. - The regulations aim to suppress short-term speculation by limiting behaviors such as frequent order cancellations and manipulative trading, thereby reducing false liquidity and irrational market fluctuations [5][6]. Cost Implications - High-frequency trading strategies may see a decline in profitability by 30% to 50%, with smaller private equity firms facing elimination due to increased compliance costs [6][11]. - The introduction of a 1 yuan order fee and a 5 yuan cancellation fee will raise the breakeven point for high-frequency strategies by 30% to 50% [6][19]. Market Structure Changes - The regulations are expected to consolidate the advantages of leading quantitative firms that primarily use medium to low-frequency strategies, while smaller firms relying on high-frequency strategies may need to transition or exit the market [6][11]. - The overall market concentration is likely to increase, as smaller firms with insufficient technical reserves face pressure to adapt or exit [6][19]. Market Ecology Optimization - The regulations are anticipated to improve liquidity quality by reducing deceptive trading practices, allowing genuine supply and demand to be more accurately reflected in prices [6][11]. - The fairness of the market is expected to enhance as the technical advantages of high-frequency trading diminish, thereby protecting the interests of smaller investors [6][11]. Impact on Trading Volume - On the first day of the new regulations, the trading volume in the two markets decreased by over 200 billion yuan, indicating a potential impact on quantitative trading activities [8][9]. - Despite the drop, some market participants believe that the trading volume remained high, suggesting that the market's response to the new regulations may be within normal parameters [10][11]. Long-Term Industry Outlook - The new regulations are seen as a step towards a more transparent and fair market, promoting the sustainable development of the quantitative industry [16][19]. - The focus of competition in the quantitative sector is shifting from speed to the effectiveness of strategies, with an increasing emphasis on fundamental factors [19].