China stocks head for weekly loss as AI rally loses steam

SHANGHAI: China stocks rose on Friday but were on track to end the week lower, as a rally in AI shares lost momentum and concerns over higher US yields weighed on global equities.

China’s blue-chip CSI300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index were both up 0.4% by the lunch break.

Hong Kong benchmark Hang Seng rose 2.1%.

For the week, the CSI300 Index was set to close nearly 1% down, while the Hang Seng Index was up 0.6%.

Consumer staples shares rose 2.6%, leading gains onshore, as sentiment towards AI supply chain stocks cooled and investors shifted into traditional sectors, according to market participants. Chinese liquor giant Kweichow Moutai shares rose 2.4%.

The tech-focused STAR50 Index fell 0.7%, and was down nearly 4% this week.

The CSI Artificial Intelligence Index edged down 0.2%. Onshore A-share sentiment remained soft this week amid higher US yield concerns and weak domestic macro data, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note.

They lowered their China equity index targets to reflect a weaker growth outlook, tighter liquidity, less favourable flow dynamics and rising regulatory uncertainty.

Hong Kong shares rose after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he is leaning toward keeping interest rates steady at the US central bank’s policy meeting this month if the next batch of inflation data shows price pressures are continuing to moderate.

Tech majors listed in Hong Kong rebounded from a two-month low, up 2.5%.

Alibaba shares gained 3.4%. Shares of Chinese smartphones-to-electric vehicles (EV) maker Xiaomi climbed 3.1% on a deal with German auto dealers. ‑Reuters