Broad Sector Gains Lift Hang Seng to 6-Week High as 2026 Opens

2026-01-02 08:17 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

The Hang Seng surged 708 points, or 2.8%, to finish at a six-week high of 26,384 on Friday, the first trading day of a new year, rebounding from previous weakness amid widespread sector strength.

Hong Kong’s tech index jumped 3.6% after DeepSeek launched a paper on cheaper AI development, reigniting optimism over Chinese tech sector.

Consumer, tech, and property stocks also rallied after President Xi Jinping signaled more proactive macro policies in 2026 to sustain momentum following around 5% growth last year.

Baidu soared 8.8% as its unit Kunlunxin announced plans for a Hong Kong listing.

Meanwhile, Hua Hong Semiconductor spiked 12.8% before easing after unveiling a CNY 7.6 billion private placement to fund projects and repay debt.

Meanwhile, Shanghai Biren Technology more than doubled on its Hong Kong debut, marking the financial hub’s first listing of 2026 with a strong start.

For the week, Hong Kong markets surged 2.0%, after closing 2025 with their best annual gain since 2017.



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