SHANGHAI: China stocks were largely flat while Hong Kong shares declined today as investor focus shifted from US-China leaders’ two-day meeting to escalating tensions in the Middle East and a global bond selloff.
In early trade, the Shanghai Composite Index and China’s blue-chip index CSI300 held their ground at roughly 4,136 and 4,847 points, respectively.
Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index led losses across Asian markets, down 1.4%, mirroring an overnight decline on Wall Street.
Market sentiment weakened after fresh attacks in the Gulf pushed oil prices and bond yields higher.
A drone strike caused a fire at a nuclear power plant in the UAE, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three drones.
US President Donald Trump also warned Iran to move “fast” on a deal.
Investors are increasingly concerned that central banks may tighten policy further to contain inflation pressures, overshadowing the Trump-Xi summit, which produced limited concrete outcomes.
“In our view, the summit delivered short-term stabilisation for both leaders,” Nomura economist Lu Ting said, referring to a new paradigm described by Washington as a pragmatic arrangement and by Beijing as a “Constructive Strategic Stability US-China Relationship”.
“We believe the summit is overall a success, though it might disappoint some people who had too high expectations right before the summit,” Lu Ting said.
China-listed agriculture stocks fell more than 2% after the White House said Beijing committed to buying at least US$17 billion worth of US agricultural products annually from 2026 to 2028.
Meanwhile, Chinese chipmakers rose after US officials indicated semiconductor export controls were not a key issue during talks in Beijing, suggesting any breakthrough on Nvidia’s H200 chip sales to China remains distant.
