China, Hong Kong stocks rise on healthcare, tech advance

Moderna

20/08/2026 05:47

SHANGHAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - China and Hong Kong stocks rose on Thursday, as healthcare stocks surged and tech shares rebounded from a selloff, amid a broader recovery across Asia.
** China's large-cap CSI300 Index .CSI300 was 0.2% higher by the lunch break, after tumbling 3% on Wednesday. The Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC rose 0.3%.
** In Hong Kong, Hang Seng .HSI climbed 1.5% after a nearly flat session on Wednesday.
** Investors drew solace from strength in neighbouring markets following the global tech selloff in the previous session. South Korea's Kospi Index .KS11 jumped 7% while Japan's stock market gained 1%.
** Sentiment was also aided by a fresh batch of Chinese companies - including Foxconn Industrial Internet Co 601138.SS and CCCC Design & Consulting 600720.SS - announcing share buybacks or purchases.
** Healthcare stocks surged in both China and Hong Kong after Moderna MRNA.O and Merck MRK.N on Wednesday announced a major success in a new field of cancer treatment that sent Moderna's shares surging as much as 160%, while Merck jumped 12%. 
** China's CSI Vaccine and Biotech Index .CSI931992 shot up 10%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Innovative Drug Index .HSIDI advanced more than 8%.
** Meanwhile, tech shares clawed back some of Wednesday's losses.
** The STAR100 Index .STAR100 jumped nearly 3% after a 7% loss, while Hong Kong's AI Index .HSAIT firmed 4%.
** But shares of Chinese humanoid robot maker Unitree 688836.SS tumbled 16% after soaring more than fivefold in a blockbuster trading debut in Shanghai on Wednesday. 

(By Shanghai Newsroom; Edited by Harikrishnan Nair)
((samuel.shen@tr.com))