SHANGHAI: Chinese A-shares and Hong Kong's main Hang Seng Index rose on Wednesday, as global investors regrouped a day after the Ukraine crisis sparked a sell-off, and as Chinese state media sought to reassure investors over regulation concerns.
** At the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.55% at 3,476.15 points.
** China's blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.57%.
** High-tech shares were among the day's strongest gainers, with the CSI All Share Semiconductor sub-index up 5.27%, Shanghai's tech-focused STAR50 index up 3.68% and the CSI info tech sub-index 2.9% higher.
** The New Energy Vehicle sub-index added 3.24%, with Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) up 1.98%.
** Gains in tech and new energy shares were fuelled by net purchases from overseas investors.
** Northbound inflows through the Stock Connect totalled 2.93 billion yuan by midday, according to Refinitiv data.
** In contrast, the financial sector slipped 0.56% and the real estate index slumped 2.75%, after a commentary in a state-backed paper warned against the fast property market growth.
** China must guard against excessive policy easing in the property sector pushing up the real estate market too fast, a commentary in the state-backed Economic Daily said.
** Chinese H-shares listed in Hong Kong rose 0.66% to 8,325.34, while the Hang Seng Index was up 0.69% at 23,682.90.
** Food delivery platform firm Meituan rose 5.66% and was the biggest boost to the Hang Seng index on Wednesday morning after a state media commentary said the market had overreacted to government guidance on lowering fees.
** The smaller Shenzhen index was up 1.27% and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was higher by 2.01%.
** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 0.29%.
** The yuan was quoted at 6.3272 per US dollar, barely weaker than the previous close of 6.3271.