HK-listed Chinese insurers rallied this morning. CHINA LIFE (02628.HK)  -0.600 (-2.637%)    Short selling $740.74M; Ratio 24.832%   opened nearly 0.7% higher, peaking at HKD24.45 with a 7.5% gain, and last posted at HKD24.3, up 6.8%, hitting its highest level in over 7.5 years. Turnover whopped HKD3.265 billion, with the stock up 27.9% over the past month, 74.46% over three months, and over 65% year-to-date.

PING AN (02318.HK)  -1.050 (-1.946%)    Short selling $928.57M; Ratio 22.144%   opened nearly 0.5% higher and surged to HKD57.4, up 5.4%, with turnover exceeding HKD2.3 billion. CPIC (02601.HK)  -0.900 (-2.844%)    Short selling $60.78M; Ratio 6.859%   , CHINA TAIPING (00966.HK)  -0.400 (-2.286%)    Short selling $13.01M; Ratio 6.726%   , and NCI (01336.HK)  -1.850 (-3.678%)    Short selling $101.18M; Ratio 9.741%   swelled 5.5%, 5.6%, and 6.8%, respectively, while PICC GROUP (01339.HK)  -0.050 (-0.828%)    Short selling $41.37M; Ratio 11.894%   mounted nearly 4.6%.

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The Insurance Association of China announced that the reference pre-set interest rate for ordinary life insurance products in China is now 1.99%, according to a Securities Times report from last Friday. Major insurers, including China Life and Ping An Life, subsequently issued statements adjusting the maximum pre-set interest rates for newly filed insurance products.

Soochow Securities was optimistic about the ongoing improvement in liability costs for Chinese life insurers, expecting a faster shift toward dividend-paying insurance products. The broker believed the reduction in pre-set interest rates will further lower the cost of new business liabilities, alongside the gradual dilution of existing liabilities expected to improve overall average costs.
(HK stocks quote is delayed for at least 15 mins.Short Selling Data as at 2025-08-01 16:25.)