Published on 09/18/2026 at 12:49 am EDT
(Reuters) - China stock benchmarks are on track to log their best day in a month on Friday, while Hong Kong shares also gained, as traders expect trade tensions to ease after next weeks meeting between U.S. and Chinese presidents.
** Chinas large-cap CSI300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index were up about 1% by the lunch break, on track for their biggest one-day gain since mid-August.
** In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index climbed 0.7%.
** U.S. President Donald Trump will welcome his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Washington next week for their second meeting this year, as the two leaders seek stability in a fraught relationship.
** U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said this month the countries will make "some announcements on agriculture and non-tariff barriers" and traders will be watching for progress on an agreed mutual tariff reduction covering $30 billion in goods.
** With U.S. rate hike also in the rearview mirror, the external risks have weakened, Great Wall Securities said in a note.
** Bets on Chinas AI and chipmaking sectors are still advisable, the brokerage said.
** Goldman Sachs said that despite Chinas economic headwinds from weak domestic demand, we continue to see several bright spots in the economy, including the global expansion of Chinese companies.
** Chinas chipmaking and AI stocks jumped on Friday.
** The CSI Integrated Circuits Index surged 5%, while the CSI AI index gained 3%.
** Semiconductor and AI stocks also led gains in Hong Kong.
** But energy and consumer shares weakened in both markets, reflecting investors preference toward new economy stocks.
(Reporting by Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)

Sumber : Reuters