M Stanley Research: Q2 Fee Income from Chinese Banks Supports Revenue and Profit Growth Recovery; MINSHENG BANK and CITIC BANK Show Potential for Increased Profitability
Overview of Chinese Banks' Performance in 2Q25
- Revenue and Profit Growth: Morgan Stanley's report indicates that Chinese banks experienced an increase in revenue and profit growth in the second quarter of 2025, primarily supported by fee income.
- Regional Bank Highlights: The report emphasizes strong performance from regional banks such as BANK OF NINGBO, BANK OF HANGZHOU, and BANK OF CHENGDU, which are expected to continue outperforming their peers.
Key Financial Indicators
- Profit Growth Potential: Morgan Stanley identified MINSHENG BANK, CITIC BANK, PU DEV BANK, and INDUSTRIAL BANK as having potential for further profit growth acceleration, despite facing short selling pressures.
- NII and NIM Trends: The narrowing pressure on Net Interest Income (NII) for Chinese banks is coupled with moderating Net Interest Margin (NIM) pressure. SOE banks are experiencing greater NIM pressure compared to mid-sized banks due to lower yields on new income-generating assets.
Fee Income Dynamics
- Rebound in Fee Income: There has been a significant rebound in fee income, particularly among SOE banks, driven by improved investment income and a recovery in capital market activity.
- Year-over-Year Growth: Notable year-over-year fee income increases were recorded by CCB, Bank of China, PSBC, and ABC, with hikes of 19%, 19%, 16%, and 32%, respectively.
Challenges and Future Outlook
- Declining Credit Card Fees: Some banks, including CM BANK and ICBC, faced declines in fee income due to reduced credit card-related fees, although they saw growth in wealth management-related fees.
- Expectations for Future Growth: Banks with higher retail Assets Under Management (AUM) growth are anticipated to see further rebounds in fee income in the upcoming quarters.
Market Reactions
- Stock Performance: The report includes stock performance data, indicating fluctuations in share prices and short selling ratios for various banks, reflecting market sentiment and investor behavior.
This comprehensive analysis provides insights into the financial health and performance trends of Chinese banks, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in the current economic landscape.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on 00939
About the author
<Full-day Summary> HSI Falls 325 Points; HSTI Declines 59 Points; AIA Drops More Than 5%; ZTO EXPRESS-W, BOC HONG KONG, SHK PPT, REALORD GROUP, SANY INT'L Reach New Peaks; Market Turnover Increases
Market Performance: The Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 325 points (1.2%) to 26,559, while the Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTI) and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) also experienced declines, with market turnover reaching $247.87 billion.
Active Heavyweights: Major stocks like Alibaba, Meituan, and Tencent saw significant drops, with Alibaba closing down 2.9% at $155, while Xiaomi and CCB managed slight gains.
Notable Movers: AIA experienced a sharp decline of 5.5%, while Li Auto and Mengniu Dairy saw increases of 3.6% and 3%, respectively, with several stocks hitting new highs.
Short Selling Trends: High short selling ratios were noted for several companies, including Ping An and CCB, indicating increased market speculation and potential bearish sentiment.
G Sachs Evaluates Ratings and Price Targets for Chinese Banks (Table)
ICBC Performance: ICBC shares decreased by 1.233%, with a short selling ratio of 16.197% and a neutral rating of 5.8.
Bank of China Update: Bank of China shares fell by 1.071%, with a short selling ratio of 12.697% and a buy rating of 4.94.
CM Bank Insights: CM Bank shares rose by 0.418%, with a significant short selling ratio of 31.262% and a buy rating of 52.96.
Market Trends: Other banks like CCB and ABC also experienced slight declines, while PSBC maintained a buy rating despite a minor drop in share price.
G Sachs: Potential Capital Infusion into ICBC/ABC Could Result in Up to 7% EPS Dilution
Capital Injection Plans: Chinese authorities are set to inject RMB300 billion into two major state-owned banks, ICBC and ABC, as reported by Goldman Sachs, which did not confirm the rumor but assessed its potential impact.
Impact on Financial Metrics: If the capital injection occurs, it could lead to an estimated 4-7% dilution in EPS and a maximum of 2% dilution in BVPS, while potentially increasing the CET1 ratio by 54 to 61 basis points.
Stock Selection Preferences: Goldman Sachs favors banks with solid balance sheets that have completed capital replenishment, such as CCB, Bank of China, and CM Bank, which are seen as having greater potential for dividend increases.
Current Ratings and Uncertainties: Goldman Sachs maintains a Neutral rating on ICBC and ABC with target prices of HKD5.8 and HKD4.95, respectively, citing uncertainties regarding the capital injection's size, timing, and valuation.
Report: ICBC and ABC Investment Physical Gold Products Sold Out
Investment Products Availability: Several investment physical gold products from ICBC and ABC are marked as "temporarily out of stock," with some completely sold out, while other banks like Bank of China, CCB, and Bankcomm still have their physical precious metals series available.
Short Selling Data: The short selling figures for ICBC, ABC, Bank of China, CCB, and Bankcomm indicate varying levels of short selling activity, with ABC having the highest short selling ratio at 14.597%.
<Full-day Summary> HSI Falls 580 Points; HSTI Declines 122 Points; CCB and XIAOMI Drop Over 3%; NEW ORIENTAL, SHK PPT, HUABAO INTL, ZOOMLION, and HANG LUNG GROUP Reach New Peaks; Market Turnover Increases
Market Performance: The Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 580 points (2.1%) to 27,387, with significant declines in other indices, including HSTI and HSCEI, and a market turnover of $301.61 billion.
Active Heavyweights: Major stocks like CCB, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Alibaba experienced notable declines, with short selling ratios indicating increased market activity against these stocks.
Significant Declines: CSPC Pharma, Chinahongqiao, and Zijin Mining saw substantial drops of over 9%, reflecting a broader trend of falling stock prices among HSI and HSCEI constituents.
Gainers and New Highs: New Oriental and Huabao International were among the few gainers, with New Oriental hitting a new high, while several other stocks, including SD Gold and Jiangxi Copper, faced significant losses.
CCB to Increase Minimum Requirement for Personal Gold Savings Plan Next Week
Stock Performance: CCB (00939.HK) experienced a decline of 2.328%, with short selling amounting to $120.18 million and a ratio of 12.243%.
Gold Savings Plan Adjustment: Starting February 2, the minimum amount for personal gold savings plans will increase to RMB1,500.
Existing Plans Unaffected: Current regular savings plans that have already been established will continue to operate as usual without any changes.
Market Data Note: HK stock quotes are delayed by at least 15 minutes, with short selling data as of January 30, 2026.
<Full-day Summary> HSI Falls 325 Points; HSTI Declines 59 Points; AIA Drops More Than 5%; ZTO EXPRESS-W, BOC HONG KONG, SHK PPT, REALORD GROUP, SANY INT'L Reach New Peaks; Market Turnover Increases
Market Performance: The Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 325 points (1.2%) to 26,559, while the Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTI) and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) also experienced declines, with market turnover reaching $247.87 billion.
Active Heavyweights: Major stocks like Alibaba, Meituan, and Tencent saw significant drops, with Alibaba closing down 2.9% at $155, while Xiaomi and CCB managed slight gains.
Notable Movers: AIA experienced a sharp decline of 5.5%, while Li Auto and Mengniu Dairy saw increases of 3.6% and 3%, respectively, with several stocks hitting new highs.
Short Selling Trends: High short selling ratios were noted for several companies, including Ping An and CCB, indicating increased market speculation and potential bearish sentiment.
G Sachs Evaluates Ratings and Price Targets for Chinese Banks (Table)
ICBC Performance: ICBC shares decreased by 1.233%, with a short selling ratio of 16.197% and a neutral rating of 5.8.
Bank of China Update: Bank of China shares fell by 1.071%, with a short selling ratio of 12.697% and a buy rating of 4.94.
CM Bank Insights: CM Bank shares rose by 0.418%, with a significant short selling ratio of 31.262% and a buy rating of 52.96.
Market Trends: Other banks like CCB and ABC also experienced slight declines, while PSBC maintained a buy rating despite a minor drop in share price.
G Sachs: Potential Capital Infusion into ICBC/ABC Could Result in Up to 7% EPS Dilution
Capital Injection Plans: Chinese authorities are set to inject RMB300 billion into two major state-owned banks, ICBC and ABC, as reported by Goldman Sachs, which did not confirm the rumor but assessed its potential impact.
Impact on Financial Metrics: If the capital injection occurs, it could lead to an estimated 4-7% dilution in EPS and a maximum of 2% dilution in BVPS, while potentially increasing the CET1 ratio by 54 to 61 basis points.
Stock Selection Preferences: Goldman Sachs favors banks with solid balance sheets that have completed capital replenishment, such as CCB, Bank of China, and CM Bank, which are seen as having greater potential for dividend increases.
Current Ratings and Uncertainties: Goldman Sachs maintains a Neutral rating on ICBC and ABC with target prices of HKD5.8 and HKD4.95, respectively, citing uncertainties regarding the capital injection's size, timing, and valuation.
Report: ICBC and ABC Investment Physical Gold Products Sold Out
Investment Products Availability: Several investment physical gold products from ICBC and ABC are marked as "temporarily out of stock," with some completely sold out, while other banks like Bank of China, CCB, and Bankcomm still have their physical precious metals series available.
Short Selling Data: The short selling figures for ICBC, ABC, Bank of China, CCB, and Bankcomm indicate varying levels of short selling activity, with ABC having the highest short selling ratio at 14.597%.
<Full-day Summary> HSI Falls 580 Points; HSTI Declines 122 Points; CCB and XIAOMI Drop Over 3%; NEW ORIENTAL, SHK PPT, HUABAO INTL, ZOOMLION, and HANG LUNG GROUP Reach New Peaks; Market Turnover Increases
Market Performance: The Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 580 points (2.1%) to 27,387, with significant declines in other indices, including HSTI and HSCEI, and a market turnover of $301.61 billion.
Active Heavyweights: Major stocks like CCB, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Alibaba experienced notable declines, with short selling ratios indicating increased market activity against these stocks.
Significant Declines: CSPC Pharma, Chinahongqiao, and Zijin Mining saw substantial drops of over 9%, reflecting a broader trend of falling stock prices among HSI and HSCEI constituents.
Gainers and New Highs: New Oriental and Huabao International were among the few gainers, with New Oriental hitting a new high, while several other stocks, including SD Gold and Jiangxi Copper, faced significant losses.
CCB to Increase Minimum Requirement for Personal Gold Savings Plan Next Week
Stock Performance: CCB (00939.HK) experienced a decline of 2.328%, with short selling amounting to $120.18 million and a ratio of 12.243%.
Gold Savings Plan Adjustment: Starting February 2, the minimum amount for personal gold savings plans will increase to RMB1,500.
Existing Plans Unaffected: Current regular savings plans that have already been established will continue to operate as usual without any changes.
Market Data Note: HK stock quotes are delayed by at least 15 minutes, with short selling data as of January 30, 2026.
