Hang Seng Edges Higher as Tech Shares Lead

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.5%, or 124 points, to close at 24,187 on Friday, recovering from the previous session’s losses as Asian equities rebounded following a selloff in technology and semiconductor stocks, with dip buyers stepping in amid easing concerns over global market volatility. Lower yields helped ease pressure on equities, while investors bought beaten-down shares following recent market volatility and tracking gains in Wall Street. The recovery in regional chipmakers also helped lift risk appetite, although uncertainty surrounding the sustainability of artificial intelligence spending continued to weigh on parts of the technology sector. Investors also awaited Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s comments for clues on the US interest-rate outlook. Hong Kong’s business confidence data was also due later in the day. Notable movers included Lenovo (6.2%), Kingboard Laminates (2.5%), Z.AI Co. (1.2%), AIA (1.0%), and Genscript Biotech (5.1%).

The Hang Seng Index slipped 1.0%, or 251 points, to close at 24,063 on Thursday, as hotter-than-expected US inflation data heightened concerns over further Federal Reserve rate hikes, weighing on global technology and AI-related shares. The weakness followed another sharp decline on Wall Street, where the Nasdaq fell 1.88% on Wednesday, posting its biggest one-day drop since July. In the region, technology and semiconductor shares remained under pressure, with investors awaiting TSMC's earnings for further signals on semiconductor demand. Meanwhile, Brent crude eased to around US$104.67 a barrel, although tensions near the Strait of Hormuz continued to raise concerns over energy supplies and inflation. Investors also watched Transsion Holdings Hong Kong debut, as the smartphone maker sought to raise up to HK$3.36 billion amid rising memory costs and margin pressures. Notable laggards were Lenovo (-14.5%), Z.AI (-10.2%), Tencent (-1.3%), Kingboard Laminates (-9.6%), and SMIC (-4.0%).

The Hang Seng Index closed nearly flat, down 0.1% at 24,314 on Wednesday, as losses in financial and technology technology stocks outweighed gains in energy, electronic services and retail shares. Asian chipmakers rebounded following heavy losses, although concerns over AI valuations, Chinese semiconductor competition and the returns on AI infrastructure spending persisted. Brent crude rose to around US$106.60 a barrel amid escalating attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, heightening concerns over disruptions to Persian Gulf supplies and renewed inflationary pressure. Meanwhile, China's producer price inflation accelerated to 5.0% year-on-year in September, its strongest increase since June 2022, while consumer inflation edged up to 0.9%, below expectations of 1.0%. Notable decliners were Akeso (-9.6%), Z.AI Co. (-4.8%), and Kingboard Laminates (-5.2%). Investors also awaited US September CPI data for clues on the Federal Reserve's interest-rate outlook.