I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.A-share indices dropped 1.2%-1.8% at midday amid Middle East tensions, rising oil prices, and US tariffs. Gold miners weakened due to falling international gold prices, while insurers declined. Banking stocks remained stable. CXMT announced a STAR Market listing next Monday. Chip stocks were mixed, with LQKJ rebounding over 3% and Semight Instruments rising on H-share listing plans.
Tensions in the Middle East intensified as the US military launched strikes on Iran for 13 consecutive nights. Yemen's Houthi forces claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Brent oil futures for September delivery rose above USD100 per barrel, hitting a nearly two-month high. Market concerns over inflation escalated, with the yield on the US 10-year Treasury rising to around 4.7%, the highest since Jan 2025. The US also imposed new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 countries or regions, dampening market sentiment.
China's three major A-share indices moved lower in the morning session today (24th). The Shanghai Composite Index fell 46 points, or 1.2%, to 3,830 at midday, with turnover of RMB569.39 billion; the Shenzhen Component Index dropped 249 points, or 1.8%, to 13,873, with turnover of RMB655.97 billion. The ChiNext Index slid 63 points, or 1.8%, to 3,511, with turnover of RMB286.59 billion.
Major mainland Chinese banking stocks remained stable in the morning session. ICBC (601398.SH) +0.020 (+0.260%) and CMB (600036.SH) +0.160 (+0.411%) edged up 0.3% to 0.4% at midday, while CCB (601939.SH) +0.010 (+0.098%) was nearly flat. Chinese insurance stocks weakened, with PING AN OF CHINA (601318.SH) -0.400 (-0.737%) down 0.7%, while NCI (601336.SH) -1.330 (-2.024%) , CHINA PACIFIC INSURANCE (601601.SH) -0.770 (-2.347%) and CHINA LIFE (601628.SH) -1.000 (-2.396%) each fell 2% to 2.4%. BYD Company (002594.SZ) -0.200 (-0.216%) and CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX (300750.SZ) -1.100 (-0.285%) slipped 0.2% to 0.3%.
The world's fourth-largest DRAM producer CXMT (688825.SH) announced it will list on the STAR Market next Monday. Chip stocks were mixed. SMIC (688981.SH) -0.310 (-0.214%) and HUA HONG GRACE (688347.SH) -0.980 (-0.287%) dipped 0.2% to 0.3%. CAMBRICON (688256.SH) -8.030 (-0.643%) fell 0.6%, while METAX (688802.SH) -11.690 (-1.437%) and MOORE THREADS (688795.SH) -7.360 (-1.206%) opened down 1.2% to 1.4%. LQKJ (688008.SH) +7.380 (+3.273%) rebounded after opening lower and rose 3.3% at midday. Memory chip stocks GIGADEVICE (603986.SH) -4.960 (-1.097%) and LONGSYS (301308.SZ) -6.710 (-1.785%) fell 1.1% and 1.8%, respectively. Optical fibre stock YANGTZE OPTICAL FIBRE (601869.SH) -18.470 (-5.186%) dropped 5.2%. Chip testing equipment maker SEMIGHT INSTRUMENTS (688808.SH) +46.050 (+2.376%) reversed gains after opening nearly 2% lower, rising 2.4% at midday amid reports that the company plans to apply for an H-share listing. The stock has surged about 22 times since its STAR Market debut in April.
International gold prices retreated more than 2% overnight from a two-week high, dragging gold mining stocks lower in the morning session. ZIJIN MINING (601899.SH) -1.680 (-5.082%) , ZHONGJIN GOLD (600489.SH) -0.750 (-3.341%) and SHANDONG GOLD (600547.SH) -1.090 (-3.975%) opened down 3.3% to 5.1%.(da/u)(A Shares quote is delayed for at least 15 mins.)