FX.co ★ Hong Kong Stocks Gain for Second Session

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.7%, or 171 points, to 25,868 on Friday, extending gains from the previous session as investors reacted positively to softer local inflation data. Hong Kong’s annual inflation rate slowed to 1.7% in July, down from 2.0% in each of the prior two months. Shares in electronic technology, producer manufacturing, and financial sectors led the advance.

Market participants also weighed reports that fast-fashion retailer Shein has postponed its planned Hong Kong IPO to September after delaying the bookbuilding process. Among individual movers, J&T Global Express was one of the standout performers, after it reported a 124% year-on-year surge in first-half adjusted net profit to US$350.6 million, supported by strong parcel volume growth and expanding international operations.

Other notable gainers included Xiaomi (up 1.4%), MiniMax (4.5%), AIA (1.8%), Z.AI Co. (1.5%), and Kuaishou (0.7%). However, broader market gains were capped by elevated energy prices, with Brent crude trading above US$93 per barrel, keeping investors cautious about the inflation outlook.