China Stocks Slip on Mideast Jitters

2026-03-12 07:22 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Shanghai Composite shed 0.1% to close at 4,129 while the Shenzhen Component fell 0.63% to 14,375 on Thursday, with mainland stocks snapping a two-day advance as investors grappled with heightened Middle East tensions and surging oil prices.

The US-Israeli war on Iran showed no signs of easing, with Iraq halting operations at its oil terminals after two tankers were targeted in Iraqi waters, underscoring elevated supply risks in the region.

Meanwhile, the IEA approved its largest-ever emergency release of 400 million barrels of oil, though markets viewed the move as insufficient to offset potential disruptions.

China remains relatively well positioned to weather the supply shock after years of prioritizing energy security by building strategic reserves and diversifying energy sources.

Tech stocks led the decline, with sharp losses from Huagong Tech (-5.2%), Eoptolink Technology (-3.7%), Zhongji Innolight (-3.6%), Beijing Teamsun (-2.8%), and Talkweb Information (-3.3%).



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China Stocks Slip on Mideast Jitters
The Shanghai Composite shed 0.1% to close at 4,129 while the Shenzhen Component fell 0.63% to 14,375 on Thursday, with mainland stocks snapping a two-day advance as investors grappled with heightened Middle East tensions and surging oil prices. The US-Israeli war on Iran showed no signs of easing, with Iraq halting operations at its oil terminals after two tankers were targeted in Iraqi waters, underscoring elevated supply risks in the region. Meanwhile, the IEA approved its largest-ever emergency release of 400 million barrels of oil, though markets viewed the move as insufficient to offset potential disruptions. China remains relatively well positioned to weather the supply shock after years of prioritizing energy security by building strategic reserves and diversifying energy sources. Tech stocks led the decline, with sharp losses from Huagong Tech (-5.2%), Eoptolink Technology (-3.7%), Zhongji Innolight (-3.6%), Beijing Teamsun (-2.8%), and Talkweb Information (-3.3%).
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