China Stocks Rally on Upbeat Data
2026-04-16 02:14
By
Joshua Ferrer
1 min. read
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2% to above 4,000, hitting a fresh one-month high, while the Shenzhen Component Index climbed over 1.1% to 14,600, moving back toward its strong January 2022 level, supported by optimism over renewed US–Iran negotiations and upbeat domestic economic data.
China’s economy expanded 5% in the first quarter, accelerating from 4.5% in the prior quarter and slightly beating expectations, as stronger exports helped offset still-muted domestic demand.
Activity data for March painted a mixed picture, with industrial production holding up better than expected even as retail sales softened and unemployment edged higher.
Meanwhile, global sentiment improved as the US and Iran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to allow more time for talks, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed under a dual blockade.
Among individual stocks, notable gains were seen in Contemporary Amperex (5.5%), BYD (1.9%), and Zijin Mining (0.9%).