The A-Share Index Apps Professional Investors Are Using — Have You Downloaded Them?

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Like China’s over 54.49 million individual investors, facing massive amounts of information, how do you efficiently track A-share indexes and make informed decisions? Choosing the right tool is the crucial first step.

This article will provide in-depth reviews of the following tools to help you find the strongest partner, rather than simply listing features.

• Four Major Mainstream Apps
  • Tonghuashun, East Money, Futu NiuNiu, Xueqiu
• Two Professional-Level Tools
  • TradingView, Lixingren

Key Takeaways

• Choosing the right A-share index app can help investors efficiently track the market.
• Tonghuashun and East Money are comprehensive mainstream apps suitable for beginners.
• Futu NiuNiu connects global markets, while Xueqiu is a high-quality investor community.
• TradingView provides professional charting analysis, and Lixingren offers in-depth valuation data.
• Investors should choose the most suitable tool combination based on their investment style.

In-Depth Reviews of Mainstream Index Apps

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Choosing a mainstream app means you have a large user base and mature features tested by the market. They are like a Swiss Army knife on the investment journey — comprehensive enough to handle most daily needs. Let’s take a deep look at the signature strengths of these four national-level apps for index tracking.

Tonghuashun: All-Rounder National Software

Tonghuashun is almost an app installed on every A-share investor’s phone. Its biggest feature is being “comprehensive,” like a huge financial information department store.

For index tracking, you can easily achieve the following in Tonghuashun:

• Comprehensive Index Coverage: From the Shanghai Composite Index and Shenzhen Component Index to the STAR 50, as well as various industry and thematic indexes — coverage is very broad.
• Fast Data Access: You can very quickly check real-time quotes, historical K-line charts, basic information, and constituent stock lists for any index.
• Standardized Data Presentation: It provides structured data and visualized charts to help you quickly understand an index’s basic profile.

Core Advantage: Tonghuashun’s features are very powerful and comprehensive. If you need a tool with extensive functions and broad data coverage as an information foundation, it is definitely your top choice. Its positioning is to meet the general needs of the vast majority of users.

However, its “comprehensiveness” sometimes means information overload. For beginners who only want to focus on index investing, the first open may feel somewhat overwhelming.

East Money: Driven by Information and Community

Like Tonghuashun, East Money is also a powerful comprehensive financial terminal. Both provide structured data for quickly understanding listed companies and indexes. But East Money’s most unique competitiveness lies in seamlessly combining information and community (stock forums).

When you view an index (such as CSI 300), you can not only see quotes and charts but also one-click switch to:

1. Related Information: The app aggregates the latest news, research reports, and policy interpretations related to the index for you.
2. Hot Forum Discussions: You can see thousands of investors discussing the index’s trend, constituent stock performance, and market sentiment in real time.

Unique Value: East Money lets you not only know what the index “is” (price) but also deeply understand what the market thinks it “why” (reasons). For those who want to grasp market sentiment and understand public views, this is priceless.

This linkage of information and community makes cold data warm, but it also requires you to have the ability to distinguish true from false information, as community views are mixed.

Futu NiuNiu: Connecting Global Markets

Futu NiuNiu originated in the Hong Kong and US stock markets, so its genes carry a global vision and ultimate user experience. If you not only focus on A-share indexes but also venture into Hong Kong stocks and US stock markets, Futu NiuNiu is an excellent choice.

For those focused on cross-market arbitrage or global asset allocation, Futu NiuNiu’s data integration capabilities and trading experience are unmatched by other tools.

Xueqiu: Investor Community and Portfolio Tracking

Xueqiu is essentially a high-quality investor community, with quote and trading features more like services born for the community. Its core value lies in “people” and “views.”

Xueqiu’s unique help for index investors is reflected in:

• Depth of Views: You can follow top index fund managers, strategy analysts, and investment experts to directly read their latest insights on the market and indexes.
• Portfolio Tracking: Many users publicly share their index investment portfolios. You can one-click track these “real portfolios” to learn their allocation ideas and adjustment logic.
• Sentiment Perception: Xueqiu community discussions are a natural data source for market sentiment. By observing hot topics and changes in user sentiment, you can sense shifts in market direction. Research shows that analyzing sentiment and views in user-generated content helps improve judgment of market changes.

Core Value: If you are not satisfied with just looking at data and want to understand the investment logic behind the data and learn from experts’ strategies, Xueqiu is your “investment social circle” and “strategy inspiration library.”

In summary, these four mainstream apps each have their focus. Tonghuashun and East Money are comprehensive information ports, Futu NiuNiu is a bridge connecting the world, and Xueqiu is a community for in-depth exchanges.

Advanced Tools for Tracking A-Share Indexes

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Once you are familiar with the basic features of mainstream apps, you may crave deeper analysis and more professional tools. Mainstream apps are like maps that let you see road conditions clearly, while advanced tools are like professional equipment providing engine parameters and geological survey reports. They provide stronger firepower support for your investment decisions.

TradingView: Professional Charting Analysis Artifact

If you are passionate about technical analysis, TradingView is the “artifact” tailor-made for you. It is a global top-tier charting analysis platform that has conquered countless traders with its extremely smooth charting experience and powerful customization features.

Using TradingView, you can achieve a completely different analysis experience:

• Unmatched Charting Features: Its charts respond extremely quickly — zooming, dragging, and drawing are silky smooth. You can use over 110 smart drawing tools and more than 20 chart types to perform professional-level line drawing analysis on the Nasdaq index or any target you follow.
• Massive Community Indicators and Strategies: TradingView has an active community of developers and traders. You can directly use tens of thousands of custom indicators (Pine scripts) written by community members and even see complete trading strategies shared by others — opening the door to a new world for you.
• Powerful Alert System: You can set complex alerts for prices, indicators, or even drawn trend lines. When the market hits your preset conditions, the system notifies you immediately, ensuring you never miss any trading opportunity.

Core Value: TradingView perfectly combines the professionalism of technical analysis with the interactivity of social networking. It is not just a tool but a platform for learning and validating trading ideas.

Although TradingView’s analysis tools apply to global markets, note that its Chinese mainland market data may require additional subscription or have certain delays. For traders pursuing the ultimate, paying is the key to unlocking its full potential.

Upgrading to the Premium plan unlocks true professional-level features, such as:

• Volume Footprint Charts: Precisely analyze volume at each price level.
• Automatic Chart Pattern Recognition: Automatically help you discover classic technical patterns like head-and-shoulders and triangles.
• Second-Level Time Intervals: Perform ultra-short-term analysis and trading.

Lixingren: Deep Valuation Data Treasure Trove

If TradingView is the “dragon-slaying sword” for technical analysts, Lixingren is the “heaven-reliant sword” for value investors. It does not pursue flashy charts but focuses on providing deep, accurate, and easy-to-use fundamental data.

For index investors, Lixingren’s core value is reflected in the following aspects:

1. Index Historical Valuation Query: This is Lixingren’s trump card feature. You can easily query the price-to-earnings (PE) and price-to-book (PB) trends of any A-share index (such as CSI 300 or CSI 500) over the past decade or longer. More importantly, it tells you the current valuation’s historical percentile. This data helps you objectively judge whether the index is currently overvalued, reasonably valued, or undervalued.
2. Deep Constituent Stock Analysis: You can one-click penetrate the index to view its detailed constituent stock list, industry distribution, and weight proportions. Lixingren also provides summarized analysis of key financial indicators like profitability, dividends, and growth for the constituent stocks as a whole, giving you a clear understanding of the index’s “intrinsic quality.”
3. Dividend Yield and Earnings Yield: For those pursuing long-term returns, the index’s dividend yield is a key indicator. Lixingren provides clear historical charts of index dividend yield (TTM) and earnings yield (E/P), and allows you to compare them with risk-free rates like the 10-year treasury yield to assist in major asset allocation decisions.

Tip for Value Investors: When you see an index’s PE percentile below 20%, it may mean it has entered a low-valuation area worth focusing on. Lixingren makes this judgment process simple and intuitive.

Lixingren’s interface is plain and unadorned, but every piece of data hits the core of value investing. If you are an investor who believes “price fluctuates around value” and wants to “be greedy when others are fearful,” Lixingren — this data treasure trove — is absolutely not to be missed.

Your Best Index Tool Selection Guide

We have reviewed six powerful tools. Now, you may ask: “Which one is best for me?” The answer depends on your investment style. Here is a selection guide tailored for you to quickly find the best partner.

Beginner Entry: Simplicity and Ease of Use First

If you are just starting to invest, a clear and simple interface is crucial. You need a tool that helps you get started quickly rather than being overwhelmed by complex features.

Core Recommendation: East Money or Tonghuashun

They provide comprehensive market information and basic charting features. You can easily view major index quotes and understand market dynamics through information and communities. Starting with these two national-level apps is a safe first step.

Value Investors: Focus on Valuation Data

You believe price will revert to value. You need precise data to judge whether assets are expensive or cheap. A powerful valuation database is your essential weapon.

Lixingren provides you with objective valuation data, while Xueqiu lets you walk alongside smart minds.

Technical Analysts: Charting Features Determine Success or Failure

You gain market insights through charts and indicators. Smooth drawing experience and rich technical tools are your core demands. You need a professional-level charting analysis platform.

• Ultimate Choice: TradingView
  • It has unmatched charting features and massive community indicators.
  • You can perform professional-level line drawing analysis and strategy backtesting.
• Convenient Alternative: Futu NiuNiu
  • Its mobile charting experience stands out among mainstream apps — suitable for analysis anytime, anywhere.

Cross-Market Players: Global Vision Essential

Your portfolio spans mainland China, Hong Kong, and US markets. You need a tool that seamlessly integrates global market data to help you make efficient decisions.

Top Choice: Futu NiuNiu

Futu NiuNiu lets you easily track major global market A-share indexes and others in one app. Its cross-market data integration capabilities and smooth trading experience are unmatched by other tools.

Finding the perfect index tool has no standard answer. The key is to find the combination that suits your investment style.

• Popular Choice: Tonghuashun and East Money are comprehensive.
• Specific Strengths: Futu and Xueqiu each have specialties.
• Professional Artifacts: TradingView and Lixingren for in-depth analysis.

Now, based on your style, download 1-2 tools and experience them personally. Start your efficient and professional A-share index investment journey.

FAQ

Are these apps all free?

Most apps’ basic features are free. They can meet your daily needs. Some advanced features or in-depth data require paid subscription. For example, TradingView’s professional charting features need to be unlocked with payment.

Do I need to download all these apps?

Not at all. We recommend choosing 1-2 based on your investment style to experience first. For example, value investors can prioritize the Lixingren + Xueqiu combination.

Core principle is to find the tool combination that suits you best, not pursue quantity. One main app paired with one professional tool is usually the most efficient choice.

Is the index data in these apps real-time?

For the Chinese mainland market, mainstream apps like Tonghuashun and East Money provide real-time quotes. Overseas tools like TradingView may have delays for Chinese mainland market data — real-time data usually requires additional subscription.

Do beginners need to use TradingView or Lixingren directly?

No need. We recommend starting with East Money or Tonghuashun to familiarize yourself with basic features. When you develop deeper needs for valuation or technical analysis, consider introducing these two professional tools.