Core Insights - The concentration of short positions in TS contracts is driven by significant entry of arbitrage funds, with expectations that the basis will initially widen slightly before stabilizing [1][3] - The current low interest rate environment, cautious sentiment in the bond market, and high Internal Rate of Return (IRR) are key factors influencing this phenomenon [1] Summary by Sections Historical Context - The concentration of short positions in TS contracts was observed from early 2024 to May 2024, driven by the entry of arbitrage funds and a surge in bullish sentiment [2] - The basis of TS contracts dropped to -0.24 yuan, while IRR peaked at 3.4%, attracting more arbitrage funds [2] Current Market Analysis - As of now, the short position held by CITIC Futures has peaked and is beginning to decline, indicating a potential for the basis to widen slightly before stabilizing [3] - The influx of arbitrage funds has led to a noticeable recovery in the current TS contract basis, although the incremental entry of these funds is expected to be limited [3]

Group 1 - The global industrial chain, monetary system, and asset analysis framework are undergoing reconstruction due to diminishing trust among countries, with gold potentially entering a long-term bull market driven by de-dollarization and ongoing central bank purchases [3] - Domestic economic demand remains to be boosted, and policies are expected to maintain a gradually positive tone [3] - Inflation is hovering at low levels, with the key to its rebound lying internally rather than externally, suggesting that policy efforts may become more aggressive in the second half of the year [5] Group 2 - May export growth has slowed, not due to previous over-shipments or temporary fluctuations, but rather due to the peak and subsequent decline of tariff expectations, indicating a resilient export sector despite a lower central tendency [9] - The high-interest rate environment caused by recent dollar credit discounts has led to a notable slowdown in private credit expansion in the U.S., creating a fragile balance that requires careful policy management to avoid potential debt crises [11] - The market for human-robot bearings is expected to see significant growth due to the development of humanoid robots, with domestic replacement opportunities becoming increasingly prominent [27] Group 3 - The recent trading heat in Chinese assets has increased, with a notable inflow of financing funds and new equity fund issuances exceeding 10 billion [13] - The Hong Kong stock market is emerging as a key battleground in the current bull market, driven by the scarcity of attractive assets and supportive domestic policies [16] - The expansion of ETFs is beneficial for credit bonds, with significant differences in duration and component concentration between Shanghai and Shenzhen market indices [20]

Group 1: Market Overview - The short-term bond market is expected to experience fluctuations, and unilateral operations are not recommended. However, if the liquidity does not continue to tighten, it is suggested to buy TS contracts on dips as valuations are relatively reasonable [1][4] - As of May 20, different maturity bond contracts showed continued divergence, with long-end contracts performing stronger and short-end contracts weaker. TL and T contracts both increased by 0.03%, while TF and TS contracts decreased by 0.04% and 0.03% respectively [1] Group 2: Economic Resilience - In April, the industrial added value for large-scale enterprises grew by 6.1% year-on-year, a decrease of 1.6 percentage points from the previous month, but still better than market expectations. The service production index also showed resilience with a 6.0% year-on-year growth [2] - Fixed asset investment and retail sales of consumer goods increased by 3.5% and 5.1% year-on-year respectively, indicating a strong demand side despite a slowdown in the real estate sector [2] - In April, new social financing reached 1.1591 trillion yuan, an increase of 1.2249 trillion yuan year-on-year, primarily supported by government bond financing [2] Group 3: Financial Data Insights - By the end of April, M2 money supply grew by 8.0% year-on-year, reflecting strong monetary support for the real economy, while M1 growth slowed to 1.5% year-on-year [2] - The decrease in household short-term and long-term loans by 401.9 billion yuan and 123.1 billion yuan respectively indicates a tightening in consumer credit and a slowdown in real estate sales [2] Group 4: Yield Curve Dynamics - The overall liquidity in May was more relaxed compared to April, with R001 and R007 rates dropping to 1.43% and 1.53%, respectively, creating a negative carry in the current bonds [4] - There is a divergence in market views regarding future liquidity, with concerns about potential tightening from the central bank amid high government bond issuance [4] - The ability of the yield curve to open up downward space will depend on whether liquidity continues to ease, which could lead to a decline in short-term yields [4]

Group 1: Report Information - Report Title: "TS Contract: Can It Still Be Used for Cash-and-Carry Arbitrage? - Interest Rate Weekly (Week 3 of May)" [1] - Report Date: May 19, 2025 [2] - Chief Analyst: Yan Ziqi, with a practice certificate number of S0010522030002 [2] - Research Assistant: Hong Ziyan, with a practice certificate number of S0010123060036 [2] Group 2: Industry Investment Rating - No industry investment rating is provided in the report. Group 3: Core Views - Since the implementation of reciprocal tariffs on April 3, the bond market's maturity yields have first decreased and then increased. Among treasury bond futures, the TL contract has been strong, while the TS/TF/T main contracts have declined [2]. - The weak performance of the TS contract is due to the previous large premium and the change in the expectation of loose monetary policy. The market's expectation of loose monetary policy changed significantly in Q1, and there are differences in the short - term expectation of loose monetary policy after the double - cut in May. The yield curve has flattened instead of steepening as expected [3]. - As of May 16, the basis of the TS main contract is - 0.07 yuan, and the IRR is 1.79%. The basis has significantly converged, and the IRR is close to the capital interest rate, so the cost - effectiveness of cash - and - carry arbitrage is insufficient [4]. - In the short term, the TS contract may still be in a premium state because of the continuous negative carry. The inversion between R001 and the 2 - year treasury bond maturity yield has decreased from about 60bp at the beginning of the year to 15bp on May 16, and the negative carry phenomenon of some varieties will continue [4]. - Considering that the tight capital situation in Q1 will not repeat, the short - term interest rate has a ceiling and the probability of a sharp decline is low. With the significant convergence of the basis, one can consider participating in the possible rise of the TS contract [4]. Group 4: Analyst and Research Assistant Introduction - Analyst Yan Ziqi is the assistant director of the Research Institute of Hua'an Securities and the chief analyst of fixed income. He has 8 years of experience in sell - side fixed income and equity research, and has won the second place in the 2024 Wind Gold Analyst and the best analyst in the 2023 Choice fixed income industry [12]. - Research Assistant Hong Ziyan is a master of financial engineering from the University of Southern California, covering macro - interest rates, institutional behavior, and treasury bond futures research [12].