Decline in China and Hong Kong Stocks Driven by Technology Sector Selloff

On Tuesday, stocks in China and Hong Kong declined, led by a drop in technology shares, following Xiaomi’s announcement of a share sale. The CSI300 and Shanghai Composite indices fell around 0.2%, while the Hang Seng Index dropped 2.2%. Market analysts noted concerns regarding high valuations and potential profit-taking among investors as key reasons for the downturn.

On Tuesday, shares in China and Hong Kong experienced a downturn, largely driven by a selloff in the technology sector. Concerns over potentially stretched valuations were exacerbated by Xiaomi’s announcement of a planned share sale, which prompted a wave of selling across the market. As of midday trading, key indices reflected this trend with the CSI300 and Shanghai Composite index declining approximately 0.2% each.

The technology sector was notably affected, with the chip industry falling by 1.1% and the AI sector experiencing a 1.8% drop. Hong Kong’s financial indicators mirrored this decline, as the Hang Seng Index slipped by 2.2%, and the Hang Seng Tech Index was down by 3.5%. Specifically, Xiaomi saw a significant decline of 5.4%, marking its largest drop in a month following the share sale announcement targeting up to $5.27 billion.

Other significant players in the market also faced losses, with Xpeng experiencing a 6.3% decrease and BYD falling by 3.4%. Kenny Ng Lai-yin, a securities strategist at China Everbright Securities International, noted, “Xiaomi’s share placement serves as a reminder to investors that some companies may have hit high valuations following the recent rally.”

Moreover, Steven Leung, director at UOB Kay Hian, suggested that the placement might be viewed as merely an “excuse” for the broader market correction after substantial gains over the previous period. He indicated that investors are typically inclined to lock in profits as the quarter ends, especially since the market had already priced in earnings reports and government policies from the National People’s Congress (NPC). This was evident in the muted response to recent earnings from industry giants like Tencent and Xiaomi.

In summary, the Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets witnessed a downward trend predominantly influenced by declining technology stocks, specifically due to Xiaomi’s share sale announcement. Concerns regarding high valuations seem to have prompted a broader sell-off, which was further compounded by typical profit-taking behavior observed at quarter-end. Analysts highlight the importance of market sentiment and upcoming earnings, which may influence future trading patterns.

Original Source: www.tradingview.com

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