The Hang Seng Index edged down 0.2%, or 39 points, to 25,280 on Wednesday, as investors stayed cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices. Brent crude approached US$100 a barrel after attacks on Saudi energy facilities heightened concerns over global supply disruptions, stoking inflation fears and potentially limiting the scope for interest-rate cuts. US futures weakened following overnight losses on Wall Street.
However, gains in Asian semiconductor stocks and sustained investor interest in artificial-intelligence shares helped cushion the market’s decline. On the data front, China’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 0.8% in August from 0.5% in July, while producer prices rose 3.8% year-on-year, up from 3.5% in July, driven in part by higher food and energy costs.
Among individual names, Haidilao tumbled nearly 10%, while Lenovo rose 2.1%, MiniMax added 1.9% and Kingboard Laminates gained 3.3%.
