**S&P Upgrades Chinese Brokerage Sector; Insurance Funds Gain Hong Kong ETF Access**
S&P Global Ratings upgraded its anchor rating for Chinese securities firms from 'bb' to 'bb+', citing China's large foreign exchange reserves and strict regulatory framework. Separately, Chinese regulators clarified that qualified insurance funds can invest in Hong Kong Stock Connect ETFs without using QDII quotas, effective September 20, 2026. The moves aim to lower broker overseas financing costs and broaden insurer global asset allocation. Meanwhile, research reports forecast top broker Q3 earnings may beat expectations despite a market downturn, while August life insurance premiums fell 13.6% year-on-year.
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Regulator Clarifies Insurance Funds Can Invest in Hong Kong Stock Connect ETFs, Focus on Non-Bank Sector Valuation Recovery
A research report from Guojin Securities analyzes recent developments in China's non-bank financial sector. In the securities segment, it notes that CICC's absorption merger with Dongxing Securities and Cinda Securities has entered the operational phase, with CICC's A-share dissenting shareholder buyback results announced. The report recommends focusing on high-value brokerages like GF Securities, Guotai Haitong, and CITIC Securities, as well as diversified high-dividend stocks. In the insurance segment, regulators have clarified that insurance funds can invest in Hong Kong Stock Connect ETFs, broadening overseas allocation channels without using QDII quotas. This is seen as beneficial for insurance investment returns. The report also reviews August premium data, noting life insurance growth slowed due to high base effects from last year's policy-driven sales, while property insurance maintained steady growth. Investment advice favors high-dividend stocks or those with stable Q3 performance, with a caveat to consider high-growth elastic stocks if tech stocks rebound strongly. Risks include equity market volatility, a sharp decline in long-term interest rates, and slower-than-expected capital market reforms.
Read sourceS&P Upgrades Chinese Brokerage Sector; Insurance Funds Get Hong Kong ETF Access
This weekly research note from China Merchants Securities, published on Tencent Stock, covers the non-bank financial sector for the week of September 21-24, 2026. All sub-sectors declined, with insurance (-0.68%) outperforming securities (-1.01%) and diversified finance (-1.69%). The key development in the securities sector is S&P's upgrade of the anchor rating for Chinese securities firms from 'bb' to 'bb+', citing China's large foreign exchange reserves and sovereign wealth fund as buffers against external shocks, and a strict regulatory framework. Specific upgrades include GF Securities to 'BBB+/Stable/A-2', while CITIC Securities, Guotai Haitong, and China Galaxy Securities had their outlooks revised to positive. The report argues this will lower overseas financing costs and free up derivatives margin. The sector's PB ratio is at 1.11x, near a 5-year low, creating a perceived mismatch with fundamentals. In the insurance sector, a new regulatory circular allows qualified insurers to invest in Hong Kong Stock Connect ETFs without using QDII quotas, effective September 20. The report notes this broadens global asset allocation channels, potentially boosting returns and diversifying risk, but warns of scale limits, currency, and liquidity risks. It recommends specific securities and insurance stocks.
Read sourceChina Brokerages See Increased Fund Allocation in Q2 2026; Insurance Sector Heavily Reduced
According to a research report from China Merchants Securities, the overall allocation to the non-bank financial sector by Chinese public funds fell to 1.13% in Q2 2026, a decrease of 0.75 percentage points quarter-on-quarter. Within the sector, brokerages saw their allocation rise by 0.08 percentage points to 0.60%, driven by a recovery in equity markets and easing funding pressures. Key beneficiaries included leading firms such as CITIC Securities, Huatai Securities, GF Securities, and East Money. In contrast, the insurance sector experienced a significant reduction, with its allocation dropping by 0.75 percentage points to 0.48%. All major insurers except China Life saw reduced holdings, reflecting extreme market structural trends and long-term interest rate dynamics. The report maintains a positive recommendation for both sectors, citing potential for ROE improvement in securities and valuation recovery for high-dividend insurance stocks. Recommended stocks include GF Securities, Guotai Haitong, CICC, CITIC Securities for brokerages, and China Taiping, Ping An, New China Life, China Life, CPIC, and PICC P&C for insurance.
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Open Source Securities: Broker Q3 Reports May Beat Expectations, Favor Top Broker Valuations
Open Source Securities released a research note stating that while market trading activity declined month-on-month in September and the non-bank sector fell, they continue to favor the allocation value of top-tier brokerages. The firm forecasts that Q3 earnings for these brokerages may slightly decline sequentially but could still beat expectations overall, demonstrating earnings resilience amid market volatility. Key supporting points include: 5 brokerages (Huatai, CITIC, CSCI, Guotai Junan, CICC) have accessed the offshore RMB FX trading platform, aiding cross-border FICC business; Q3 IPO activity in A-shares and Hong Kong markets grew sequentially; and the wealth management and overseas businesses are expected to remain stable. For insurance, the report notes that life insurance premiums fell 13.6% year-on-year in August due to high base effects and product switches, while property insurance maintained modest growth. The firm recommends high-dividend stocks such as Jiangsu Financial Leasing, China Pacific Insurance, and China Ping An, and sees valuation re-rating opportunities for top brokerages due to a mismatch between improving ROE and low valuations.
Read sourceOpen Source Securities: Broker Q3 Earnings May Beat Expectations, Favor Top Broker Allocation
Open Source Securities released a research report stating that market trading activity has declined month-on-month since September, with Fed rate hikes and rising US Treasury yields pressuring risk assets. The non-bank financial sector fell in September, giving back some gains since June. The firm continues to favor allocation to top-tier brokerages, arguing that improved profit structures may lead to Q3 earnings that, while slightly down quarter-on-quarter, could overall beat expectations, demonstrating earnings resilience amid market volatility. Valuations and funding conditions remain favorable, and with a rising ROE center and improving earnings sustainability, top brokerages have significant revaluation potential. The report also notes that five brokerages have accessed the onshore offshore RMB forex trading platform, which could help expand cross-border FICC client business. In the insurance sector, August life insurance premium growth slowed year-on-year, while property insurance maintained modest growth. The firm recommends high-dividend stocks such as Jiangsu Financial Leasing, Huatai Securities, Ping An Insurance, and China P&C Insurance, among others. Risks include capital market volatility and weaker-than-expected insurance liabilities.
Read sourceChina Brokerages' Q3 Earnings May Beat Expectations; Life Insurance Premiums Slow in August
A research report from Kaiyuan Securities forecasts that China's top brokerages may report better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, citing improved profit structures and resilience despite a market downturn. The report notes that September's average daily stock and fund turnover fell 14% month-on-month to 2.34 trillion yuan, while Q3 turnover dropped 16.8% from Q2. Five brokerages, including Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) and CITIC Securities International Capital, have been connected to the CFETS offshore RMB FX trading platform, which is seen as beneficial for expanding cross-border FICC client business. In the insurance sector, life insurance premiums fell 13.6% year-on-year in August, attributed to high base effects and product changes under the bancassurance 'report-and-line' policy. Property insurance maintained modest growth of 2.2% year-to-date. The report recommends stocks including Jiangsu Financial Leasing, Huatai Securities, China Ping An, and China P&C Insurance, and warns of risks from capital market volatility and weaker insurance liabilities.
China Non-Bank Finance Weekly: Active Equity Funds See Net Redemptions in August, Favor Dividend Opportunities
This research report from Kaiyuan Securities analyzes the non-bank financial sector in China for the week. Key findings include that active equity mutual funds experienced net redemptions in August despite a recovery in net asset values, with total equity fund assets rising 3.3% month-on-month to 11.4 trillion yuan but fund shares declining 1.2%. The report forecasts that securities firms' profitability and dividends will maintain rapid growth for the full year, with investment banking, direct investment, overseas, and wealth management businesses expected to show growth in Q3, potentially exceeding Q3 earnings expectations. It recommends overweighting leading securities firms with improving ROE. For insurers, the report notes the China Insurance Association is soliciting opinions on standard clauses for medical insurance, which could support healthy development of health insurance. It recommends high-dividend-yield insurers like China Pacific Insurance, Ping An, and PICC P&C, citing stable profit growth and dividend prospects. The report also recommends Jiangsu Financial Leasing for its high dividend yield and stable earnings growth.
China Non-Bank Finance Weekly: August Active Equity Funds See Net Redemptions, Favor Dividend-Focused Non-Bank Stocks
This research report from Kaiyuan Securities analyzes the non-bank financial sector in China for the week. It notes that August saw net redemptions in active equity funds despite a recovery in net asset values, with total equity fund assets rising 3.3% month-on-month to 11.4 trillion yuan. The report forecasts that securities firms' profits and dividends will maintain rapid growth for the full year, driven by investment banking, direct investment, overseas, and wealth management businesses, potentially leading to better-than-expected third-quarter results. It recommends overweighting top-tier brokerages with improving return on equity (ROE). For insurers, the report highlights stable profit and dividend growth prospects, favoring high-dividend-yield stocks like China Pacific Insurance, Ping An, and PICC P&C, as well as Jiangsu Financial Leasing. It also notes that the China Insurance Association is soliciting opinions on model clauses for medical insurance, which could support high-quality development of health insurance. Key risks include capital market volatility and weaker-than-expected insurance liability growth.