China stocks drift lower as investors await key policy signals

HONG KONG: China stocks edged lower on Thursday, snapping a two-day post-Lunar New Year rally, as investors held off on major moves ahead of an annual parliamentary meeting next month.

At the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.1% at 4,144.08 points, surrendering its opening-hour gains.

China’s blue-chip CSI300 index edged 0.2% lower.

The property sector led the declines, with the CSI 300 Real Estate Index down 2.7%. That has wiped out all the gains seen during the session on Wednesday after Shanghai relaxed home purchase eligibility further for non-residents.

Also weighing on the markets on Thursday, the liquor sector weakened 1.3% and the energy sector lost nearly 1%.

“With the Shanghai Composite Index gradually approaching the highs before this round of correction, the spring rally has entered its second half,” Huatai Futures analysts said in a note.

Trading sentiment has cooled following the post-Lunar New Year catch-up bounce, with market focus now shifting to the upcoming National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) meeting sessions for new policy signals and guidance, they added.

Meanwhile, the CSI AI Index jumped 0.9% and the info tech sector climbed 1.1%, joining a regional tech rally as upbeat earnings from AI darling Nvidia soothed concerns over AI-driven disruption.

DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence lab which is expected to launch a major update, has granted early access to domestic suppliers including Huawei Technologies, adding fresh optimism towards domestic AI development.

In Hong Kong, the Chinese H-share index, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 1.3% to 8,917.1, while the Hang Seng Index was down 0.4% at 26,656.29. ‑Reuters