Core Insights - The recent land auction in Shanghai concluded with a total revenue of 198.77 billion yuan, representing a 7.47% premium over the starting price of 184.95 billion yuan [1] Company Analysis - China Overseas Land & Investment (中海) actively participated in the auction for the 188N-1-21 plot in the core area of Xuhui Riverside, bidding 44.65 billion yuan, which corresponds to a floor price of 148,503 yuan per square meter, setting a new record for the area [4][5] - The company has faced challenges in Shanghai, with its total sales in the eastern region dropping from 267.2 billion yuan in the previous year to 137.78 billion yuan, nearly halving its sales and falling from first to seventh place in rankings [6] - As of mid-2023, China Overseas had only one active project in Shanghai, indicating a significant reduction in its market presence [6][8] Industry Trends - The real estate market in core cities like Beijing and Shanghai has shown resilience, with new home prices increasing by 0.2% and 0.3% month-on-month, respectively, and a notable year-on-year increase of 5.6% in Shanghai [7] - The demand for high-quality properties in core urban areas remains strong, driven by the release of premium housing and the easing of purchase restrictions in peripheral areas [5] - Analysts predict that policy easing in the fourth quarter will continue to support transaction volumes in core cities, while non-core areas and many smaller cities will need to rely on price reductions to clear inventory [5]