Hang Seng Trims Early Gains at Finish

The Hang Seng added 34 points, or 0.1%, to close at 25,868 on Tuesday, marking the second straight session of advances due to strength in property and financials. Market participants pared positions in energy-related counters, redirecting focus toward fundamentals. Solid activity data from China continued to support sentiment, with industrial output and retail sales exceeding expectations while fixed investment also rose. Early strength was capped, however, by a sharp drop in U.S. stock futures after President Trump said Monday he would delay his planned trip to China by about a month due to the Middle East conflict. Caution was also built ahead of China’s monthly lending rate fix later this week, after rates were left unchanged at record lows for the ninth straight month in February. Auto shares led gains, with Chery Auto (5.5%), Geely Auto (4.5%), and Li Auto (2.0%) higher. Other notable performers included Pop Mart Intl. (3.2%), Meituan (2.2%), and J&T Global Express (1.9%).

Hong Kong shares surged 365 points, or 1.4%, to 26,192 in Tuesday morning trade, extending the prior session’s rally and notching a two-week high. Sentiment was buoyed by Wall Street’s rebound overnight and oil prices slipping below USD 100 per barrel. In China, equities edged higher after recent weakness, supported by solid activity data for January–February, with industrial output, retail sales, and fixed investment all rising. All major sectors in Hong Kong rose, led by tech and property, though gains were tempered by caution ahead of China’s monthly lending rate fix later this week. In February, the PBoC kept loan prime rates unchanged at record lows for the ninth straight month. Meanwhile, the Iran conflict clouds prospects for the upcoming Trump–Xi Jinping summit later this month, as Washington seeks Beijing's support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Early movers included Pop Mart Intl. (4.8%), Zijin Gold Intl. (4.6%), Meituan (4.2%), Xiaomi Corp. (3.8%), and Laopu Gold (3.3%).

The Hang Seng Index jumped 368 points, or 1.45%, to end at 25,834 on Monday, halting losses in the prior three sessions amid widespread gains across sectors. Sentiment strengthened after China’s activity data for the combined January–February 2026 beat forecasts, with industrial output, retail sales, and fixed investment all surprising to the upside. U.S. stock futures also traded notably higher ahead of the Fed’s policy meeting later this week. However, a third consecutive decline in mainland equities capped gains, amid speculation that a planned Trump–Xi Jinping meeting could be delayed as Washington pressed Beijing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, China’s statistics bureau cautioned that external pressures, geopolitical risks, and domestic structural challenges remain elevated. Among standout movers were Knowledge Atlas (14.0%), Mixue Group (6.4%), Akeso Inc. (6.0%), Xiaomi Corp. (5.3%), Orient Overseas (4.2%), and Meituan (3.0%).