HK Stocks: Hang Seng Rallies 1.21% to Reclaim 26,000; Gold Miners Soar, Zhipu and MiniMax Jump Over 10%

Hong Kong's three major indices closed higher on August 21. The Hang Seng Index gained 1.21% or 310.97 points to finish at 26,009.46, with total turnover reaching HK$257.3 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index added 1.01% or 86.50 points to 8,634.34, while the Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 1.40% or 65.63 points to 4,766.16.

Gold and non-ferrous metals stocks led the rally, with Chifeng Gold surging over 12%, while Shandong Gold and Tongguan Gold each jumped more than 8%. AI-related names rallied on expectations of Hang Seng Index inclusion, with Zhipu and MiniMax both soaring over 10%. Insurance stocks gained after Ping An's strong earnings, and software services advanced, led by Chinasoft International up over 8%. On the losing side, biopharma stocks broadly pulled back, with Everest Medicines and CanSino Biologics sliding more than 6%. New consumer names weakened, with Pop Mart dropping over 3% post-results.

Gold & Non-Ferrous Metals Surge — Chifeng Gold Spikes Over 12%

At the close, Chifeng Gold (06693.HK) surged 12.4% to HK$45.86; Tongguan Gold (00340.HK) jumped 10.2% to HK$3.34; Shandong Gold (01787.HK) rose 8.7% to HK$27.48; Lingbao Gold (03330.HK) gained 7.9% to HK$25.20; Zijin Gold International (02099.HK) added 5.6% to HK$260.80; and Zijin Mining (02899.HK) climbed 4.9% to HK$38.56.

The rally was fueled by a surge in international gold prices, with Comex gold futures breaking above the US$4,600 mark, driven by the US Treasury's plan to expand bond buybacks and falling Treasury yields. Additionally, China's central bank disclosed that its official gold reserves stood at 74.38 million ounces at end-March, up 160,000 ounces from the prior month — the first monthly increase exceeding 100,000 ounces since March 2025, signaling continued official-sector gold accumulation.

AI Stocks Rally — Zhipu and MiniMax Jump Over 10%

At the close, MiniMax (00100.HK) surged 11.9% to HK$347.20; Zhipu (02513.HK) soared 10.4% to HK$1,129; and Iluvatar CoreX (09903.HK) rose 5.7% to HK$403.80.

The Hang Seng Indexes Company announced its quarterly index review results after the market close. CICC had earlier flagged MiniMax, Zhipu, and Zijin Gold International as potential candidates for inclusion in the Hang Seng Index, prompting front-running by investors. Separately, Bloomberg reported that embodied AI model company Yuanli Lingji is pursuing a new funding round at a valuation of around RMB 20 billion; Zhipu participated in its first-round investment, while Alibaba and NIO Capital led its late-2024 financing.

Insurance Stocks Gain — Ping An Rises Nearly 4%

At the close, Ping An Insurance (02318.HK) rose 3.9% to HK$56.20 on turnover of HK$3.2 billion.

Ping An reported first-half attributable profit of RMB 92.585 billion, up 36.1% year-on-year, with the interim dividend raised 3.2%. Management noted that while the low-interest-rate environment pressures the banking sector, life insurance has entered a golden era, and expressed confidence in new business value growth. Co-CEO Xie Yonglin stated that the 20% tax on overseas policy gains has virtually zero impact on the group given its minimal overseas policy exposure. CFO Fu Xin argued that the stock is undervalued by nearly 50%, with the share price failing to reflect intrinsic value.

Software Services Advance — Chinasoft International Jumps Over 8%

At the close, Chinasoft International (00354.HK) surged 8.4% to HK$3.73; Kingsoft (03888.HK) gained 2.2% to HK$24.56.

Chinasoft International reported interim attributable profit of RMB 350 million, up 11% year-on-year, with revenue rising 5.2% to RMB 8.948 billion. BofA Securities maintained a Neutral rating on Kingsoft, lifting its target price from HK$24 to HK$26, citing better-than-expected opex controls and improved earnings from associates, and raised its profit forecast by 2% to 9%.

Biopharma Retreats — Everest Medicines Drops Over 6%

At the close, CanSino Biologics (06185.HK) tumbled 8.0% to HK$29.48; Everest Medicines (01952.HK) fell 6.6% to HK$31.44; Akeso (09926.HK) declined 3.9% to HK$90.25; and CSPC Pharmaceutical (01093.HK) lost 3.5% to HK$9.19.

The sector had rallied sharply in prior sessions after positive Phase 3 trial results for Moderna and Merck's mRNA cancer vaccine, but speculative sentiment cooled today as investors locked in profits. Notably, WuXi Biologics (02269.HK) bucked the trend, rising 2.7% to HK$51.00.

New Consumer Stocks Weaken — Pop Mart Falls Over 3% Post-Earnings

At the close, Pop Mart (09992.HK) dropped 3.1% to HK$149.00; Stella International (01836.HK) slumped 7.1% to HK$13.15.

Pop Mart's interim results missed across the board, with net profit of RMB 5.038 billion falling short of estimates and core overseas market revenue contracting for the first time. The chairman acknowledged the full-year growth target will be difficult to achieve. Stella International reported interim attributable profit of US$64.04 million, down 18.6% year-on-year, noting that 2025 is a key investment year with three new factories and a Vietnam product development center progressing on schedule.

Turnover Top 10

Alibaba-W (09988) HK$123.0, -2.5%, turnover HK$18.2 bn
Tencent (00700) HK$457.0, +1.2%, turnover HK$10.1 bn
Zhipu (02513) HK$1,129.0, +10.4%, turnover HK$9.4 bn
Pop Mart (09992) HK$149.0, -3.1%, turnover HK$6.4 bn
MiniMax (00100) HK$347.2, +11.9%, turnover HK$6.3 bn
Xiaomi-W (01810) HK$29.0, +4.5%, turnover HK$5.2 bn
Meituan-W (03690) HK$85.0, -1.0%, turnover HK$3.6 bn
Ping An (02318) HK$56.2, +3.9%, turnover HK$3.2 bn
Zijin Mining (02899) HK$38.6, +4.9%, turnover HK$3.0 bn
SMIC (00981) HK$72.5, +0.6%, turnover HK$2.8 bn