Published on 04/21/2026 at 04:39 am EDT
(Reuters) - Mainland China stocks ended marginally higher on Tuesday, reversing earlier losses, as investors anxiously awaited potential U.S.-Iran peace talks to ease tensions in the Middle East and relieve a global energy supply shock.
** The U.S. expressed confidence that peace talks with Iran would go ahead in Pakistan thisweek, and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering joining, as the end of a two-week ceasefire loomed.
** China's benchmark Shanghai Composite index inched higher by 0.07%, while the blue-chip CSI300 Index rose 0.22%.
** Coal-related shares led the gains, with a sub-index tracking the industry rising 2.54%.
** China might have to burn more fossil fuels this year as meteorologists forecast a moderate-or-stronger El Nino weather event in the summer and autumn, which could disrupt operations at hydropower stations across the region at a time when fuel supplies from the Middle East are disrupted.
** In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index advanced 0.48%.
** "We see about 5-10% upside for Chinese equities towards year-end with a few positive developments shaping up; however, near-term volatility remains high," analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a note this week.
** "We also expect the path to remain choppy in the near term with volatility persisting through May to July, given uncertainty around the U.S.-China presidents' meeting, first-quarter earnings season, IPO shares unlocking as well as the ongoing Middle East situation."
** Separately, shares of Chinese circuit board maker Victory Giant Technology jumped 60% in their Hong Kong debut on Tuesday, after raising HK$20.1 billion in a share sale in the city's biggest listing in about seven months.
** Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific aims to raise about HK$2 billion through a one- or two-tranche fixed-rate Hong Kong dollar bond, sources told Reuters.
(Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Harikrishnan Nair)

Sumber : Reuters