The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.3% to 3,945 on Tuesday, while the Shenzhen Component Index slipped 0.3% to 13,731, resulting in a mixed market close as investors turned cautious ahead of China’s trade data release later in the day. Economists expect export growth to accelerate to 25% year-on-year in August from 23.9% in July, with import growth forecast to pick up to 30% from 27.5%.
Risk appetite was further constrained by renewed geopolitical tensions after Beijing announced preliminary anti-dumping measures on Japanese imports of a chemical used in semiconductor manufacturing. The move adds to a series of retaliatory steps tied to the ongoing Taiwan-related dispute between China and Japan.
Among notable gainers were Zijin Mining Group (up 2.8%), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (up 1.1%), and China CITIC Bank (up 1.3%). In contrast, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) fell 2.6%, Weichai Power declined 2.3%, and Muyuan Foods Group lost 1.3%.
