# northbound flows

Nearly 5 Million New Investors Flood A‑shares in January as Liquidity Hits Record Highs

January 2026 saw 4.92 million new A‑share accounts opened — the most in any month of 2025 and the fifth‑highest monthly total on record — coinciding with record turnover and positive index performance. While the surge and strong liquidity support a medium‑term ‘‘slow bull’’ case, seasonal funding pressures and margin rule changes created a late‑month pullback that highlights ongoing volatility risks.