- Li Chen
- 21 Jul, 2026
- Hong Kong
China's benchmark indexes edged higher after regulators stepped up efforts to shore up faltering market sentiment.
The Hang Seng Index edged lower 0.5%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index rebounded more than 1% after two state-controlled investment holding companies disclosed new purchases.
China's securities regulator moved to soothe market sentiment and signaled additional steps to stabilize market operations, and about 40 listed companies announced stock repurchase plans.
The state-controlled China Reform Holdings and China Chengtong Holdings increased their allocations to domestic Chinese corporations by 60 billion yuan and vowed to expand holdings to help stabilize markets.
In addition, five state-controlled Chinese insurance companies, including Ping An Insurance Group and People's Insurance Group, highlighted the long-term investment potential of Chinese stocks.
The leading exchange-traded funds tracking mainland-benchmark indexes experienced a surge in trading volume, confirming the regulatory intervention.
AI startups are increasingly exploring stock listings, as the tech-focused companies ramp up technology development and commercialize new products.
DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and 01.ai are in early talks with investors while exploring public listing and other financing alternatives.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.2% to 25,093.82, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index advanced 1.3% to 4,655.85.
Hygon Information Technology gained 4.7% to ¥334.88, Cambricon Technologies gained 8.5% to ¥1,311.98, and Zhongji Innolight soared 9.6% to ¥1,099.87.
- Barry Adams
- 20 Jul, 2026
- New York City
Benchmark indexes in New York inched higher on Monday following steep losses in the previous week, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 index increased 0.2%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4% amid improving market sentiment.
In Europe, benchmark indexes edged higher by 0.23% and erased morning losses of 0.2% as investors returned to increase exposure to the recently beaten-down semiconductor-related stocks.
Across Asia, caution prevailed, and investors continued to lighten exposure to semiconductor- and AI-related stocks for the third consecutive week.
Benchmark indexes in Seoul dropped 4.5%; in Taipei, they declined 0.3%; in Mumbai, they decreased 0.3%, and financial markets were closed in Tokyo for a public holiday.
Last week, global equity markets navigated a volatile week as the sell-off in compute chipmakers intensified, while Indian and European markets displayed resilience.
Market averages in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan plunged between 6% and 9%.
In the U.S., the S&P 500 index dropped 1.6%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite decreased 2.9% driven by double-digit losses in semiconductor-linked stocks.
In Monday's trading in New York, crude oil declined 0.6% to $81.87 a barrel, and oil prices traded at a one-month high as escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran continued to disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds edged higher to 4.57% as escalating tensions in the Middle East fueled concerns over inflation and potential interest rate hikes.
The Federal Reserve is still widely expected to leave rates unchanged after a two-day policy meeting on July 29, but economists are anticipating a 25 basis point rate hike in September.
U.S. Movers
Ryanair Holdings decreased 4% to $60.10 after the budget airline reported a 34% plunge in after-tax profit in the fiscal first quarter ending in June.
Net income decreased 34% to €538 million from €820 million a year ago, driven by an 11% surge in operating costs to €3.81 billion.
Diluted earnings per share decreased to 51.21 cents from 76.59 cents a year ago.
Revenue increased 1% to €4.38 billion from €4.34 billion, driven by a 6% increase in passengers to 61.3 million from 57.9 million a year ago, respectively.
The price of its 20% unhedged jet fuel spiked, and fares fell 6%, primarily due to the impact of the Middle East and a holiday calendar shift.
Alibaba Group Holding increased 3.5% to $119.00 following the company's preview launch of its flagship Qwen 3.8 Max model on Sunday.
The company's latest large language model features 2.4 trillion parameters, inching further higher in the top-tier frontier AI systems.
- Barry Adams
- 20 Jul, 2026
- New York City
Benchmark indexes in New York inched higher on Monday following steep losses in the previous week, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 index increased 0.2%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4% amid improving market sentiment.
In Europe, benchmark indexes edged higher by 0.23% and erased morning losses of 0.2% as investors returned to increase exposure to the recently beaten-down semiconductor-related stocks.
Across Asia, caution prevailed, and investors continued to lighten exposure to semiconductor- and AI-related stocks for the third consecutive week.
Benchmark indexes in Seoul dropped 4.5%; in Taipei, they declined 0.3%; in Mumbai, they decreased 0.3%, and financial markets were closed in Tokyo for a public holiday.
Last week, global equity markets navigated a volatile week as the sell-off in compute chipmakers intensified, while Indian and European markets displayed resilience.
Market averages in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan plunged between 6% and 9%.
In the U.S., the S&P 500 index dropped 1.6%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite decreased 2.9% driven by double-digit losses in semiconductor-linked stocks.
In Monday's trading in New York, crude oil declined 0.6% to $81.87 a barrel, and oil prices traded at a one-month high as escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran continued to disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds edged higher to 4.57% as escalating tensions in the Middle East fueled concerns over inflation and potential interest rate hikes.
The Federal Reserve is still widely expected to leave rates unchanged after a two-day policy meeting on July 29, but economists are anticipating a 25 basis point rate hike in September.
U.S. Movers
Ryanair Holdings decreased 4% to $60.10 after the budget airline reported a 34% plunge in after-tax profit in the fiscal first quarter ending in June.
Net income decreased 34% to €538 million from €820 million a year ago, driven by an 11% surge in operating costs to €3.81 billion.
Revenue increased 1% to €4.38 billion from €4.34 billion, driven by a 6% increase in passengers to 61.3 million from 57.9 million a year ago, respectively.
The price of its 20% unhedged jet fuel spiked, and fares fell 6%, primarily due to the impact of the Middle East and a holiday calendar shift.
Alibaba Group Holding increased 3.5% to $119.00 following the company's preview launch of its flagship Qwen 3.8 Max model on Sunday.
The company's latest large language model features 2.4 trillion parameters, inching further higher in the top-tier frontier AI systems.
- Akira Ito
- 20 Jul, 2026
- Tokyo
Indexes in South Korea and Taiwan retained a downward bias amid concerns over the AI trade and escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Japan's indexes plunged 4% on Friday and extended the previous week's losses to over 8% amid concerns over the AI trade and escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Japan's financial markets were closed on Monday for a public holiday, and benchmark indexes in South Korea, Taiwan, and India extended the previous week's losses amid a deepening global rout in semiconductor-related stocks.
In Friday's trading, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 4.0%, the broader TOPIX fell 2.7%, and the Japanese yen closed at 162.38 against the U.S. dollar.
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo extended the previous week's sharp losses between 5% and 8% amid rising concerns over the unsustainable level of elevated AI infrastructure spending and stretched valuations.
Computer chipmakers and semiconductor equipment makers led decliners in Tokyo for the third consecutive week.
Kioxia Holdings dropped 16% and extended its one-month loss to 50%; Tokyo Electron decreased 8% and plunged 10% in the previous one month of trading.
The yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds held steady at 2.71% as oil prices surged for the third consecutive week.
The Brent crude oil price rose 2.6% to $90.34 a barrel on escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, and Iran declared that the ceasefire with the U.S. effectively had collapsed.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 4.0% to 64,141.12, and the broader TOPIX decreased 2.7% to 3,919.21.
Tokyo Electron dropped 8.2% to ¥65,100.0, Advantest Corp. fell 7.2% to ¥27,505.0, and Lasertec Corp. plunged 9.7% to ¥41,890.0.
Nippon Yusen KK advanced 3.0% to ¥5,706.0, Mitsui OSK Lines rose 1.6% to ¥5,609.0, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. gained 3.3% to ¥2,723.50.
Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. decreased 1.7% to ¥1,241.0, ENEOS Holdings dropped 2.4% to ¥1,243.50, and Inpex Corp. fell 0.8% to ¥3,401.0.
- Akira Ito
- 20 Jul, 2026
- Tokyo
Japan's benchmark indexes closed sharply lower on Friday and extended the previous week's losses amid deepening global rout in semiconductor-related stocks.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 4.0%, the broader TOPIX fell 2.7%, and the Japanese yen closed at 162.38 against the U.S. dollar.
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo extended the week's sharp losses between 5% and 8% amid rising concerns over the unsustainable level of elevated AI infrastructure spending and stretched valuations.
Computer chipmakers and semiconductor equipment makers led decliners in Tokyo for the third consecutive week.
Kioxia Holdings dropped 16% and extended its one-month loss to 50%; Tokyo Electron decreased 8% and plunged 10% in the previous one month of trading.
The yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds held steady at 2.71% as oil prices surged for the third consecutive week.
In Monday's trading, the Brent crude oil price rose 2.6% to $90.34 a barrel on escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, and Iran declared that the ceasefire with the U.S. effectively had collapsed.
Benchmark indexes in South Korea dropped 3% and in Taiwan edged up 0.2%.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 4.0% to 64,141.12, and the broader TOPIX decreased 2.7% to 3,919.21.
Tokyo Electron dropped 8.2% to ¥65,100.0, Advantest Corp. fell 7.2% to ¥27,505.0, and Lasertec Corp. plunged 9.7% to ¥41,890.0.
Nippon Yusen KK advanced 3.0% to ¥5,706.0, Mitsui OSK Lines rose 1.6% to ¥5,609.0, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. gained 3.3% to ¥2,723.50.
Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. decreased 1.7% to ¥1,241.0, ENEOS Holdings dropped 2.4% to ¥1,243.50, and Inpex Corp. fell 0.8% to ¥3,401.0.
- Li Chen
- 20 Jul, 2026
- Hong Kong
China's indexes rebounded sharply on Monday as authorities ramped up efforts to rebuild investor confidence and stabilize the country's stock market.
The Hang Seng Index soared nearly 2%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index gained 1.8% amid expectations of additional regulatory steps supporting market momentum.
The state-controlled China Reform Holdings and China Chengtong Holdings increased their allocations to domestic Chinese corporations and vowed to expand holdings to help stabilize markets.
The People's Bank of China held its loan prime rates steady for the 14th month in a row in July, with the one-year rate steady at 3.0% and the five-year rate at 3.5%.
Last week, China's statistical agency confirmed that the economic growth slowed to 4.2% in the second quarter, and retail sales, property transactions, and fixed-asset investment lagged expectations.
State-controlled media reported that securities regulators are preparing to meet with market participants to discuss measures that will support the stable development of capital markets.
Chinese policymakers have prioritized renewable energy products, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence-linked products and services to lower dependence on imported energy and agriculture products.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index jumped 1.9% to 25,034.97, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index rose 1.8% to 4,615.75.
Benchmark indexes rebounded from last week's sharp losses amid a global rout in semiconductor- and AI-linked stocks.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China rose 1.7% to HK $7.03, the Bank of China advanced 2.1% to HK $5.19, and the Agricultural Bank of China increased 2.8% to HK $5.84.
Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Holdings plc decreased by 0.3% to HK$156.30.
- Li Chen
- 20 Jul, 2026
- Hong Kong
China's indexes rebounded sharply on Monday as authorities ramped up efforts to rebuild investor confidence and stabilize the country's stock market.
The Hang Seng Index soared nearly 2%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index gained 1.8% amid expectations of additional regulatory steps supporting market momentum.
The state-controlled China Reform Holdings and China Chengtong Holdings increased their allocations to domestic Chinese corporations and vowed to expand holdings to help stabilize markets.
The People's Bank of China held its loan prime rates steady for the 14th month in a row in July, with the one-year rate steady at 3.0% and the five-year rate at 3.5%.
Last week, China's statistical agency confirmed that the economic growth slowed to 4.2% in the second quarter, and retail sales, property transactions, and fixed-asset investment lagged expectations.
State-controlled media reported that securities regulators are preparing to meet with market participants to discuss measures that will support the stable development of capital markets.
Chinese policymakers have prioritized renewable energy products, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence-linked products and services to lower dependence on imported energy and agriculture products.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index jumped 1.9% to 25,034.97, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index rose 1.8% to 4,615.75.
Benchmark indexes rebounded from last week's sharp losses amid a global rout in semiconductor- and AI-linked stocks.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China rose 1.7% to HK $7.03, the Bank of China advanced 2.1% to HK $5.19, and the Agricultural Bank of China increased 2.8% to HK $5.84.
Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Holdings plc decreased by 0.3% to HK$156.30.