Mainland China markets follow US in embracing tech stock dominance

Mainland China's stock markets are mirroring the US trend of tech stock dominance, with the technology sector becoming the largest component of the CSI 300 Index. AI-related companies like Zhongji Innolight and Eoptolink Technology have overtaken traditional bellwethers such as Kweichow Moutai in index weightings, driven by the global AI boom and strong demand for data center infrastructure.

Mainland China markets follow US in embracing tech stock dominance AI boom sees long-time bellwether Kweichow Moutai cede top spot in CSI 300 Index weightings to Zhongjin Innolight Zhang Shidong /author/zhang-shidong in Shanghai Mainland China’s stock markets are converging with those in the US when it comes to the concentration of technology companies, with the sector becoming the biggest constituent of key equity benchmarks. CSI 300 Index https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3358503/why-brokers-believe-chinas-ai-driven-stock-run-will-find-fresh-legs?module=inline&pgtype=article – which tracks the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets – twice as much as a year ago. That has put the tech sector on top of the benchmark’s 10 industry groups, with financials and industrials ranked second and third respectively. The pattern also extends to individual stocks. Zhongji Innolight https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3356074/ai-hyperscaler-effect-vaults-chinas-zhongji-innolight-top-csi-300-benchmark?module=inline&pgtype=article and Eoptolink Technology, which make the optical modules used in AI data centres, and lithium-battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd CATL carry the biggest weightings on the CSI 300, eclipsing liquor giant Kweichow Moutai, which had been its main bellwether for years. The weightings of CSI 300 companies are based on the valuations of free-float stocks, rather than the total number of shares. “Magnificent Seven” technology stocks https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3252787/why-magnificent-seven-us-tech-stocks-are-bubble-wont-burst?module=inline&pgtype=article – Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Tesla – account for about 40 per cent of total market capitalisation. AI trades have dominated global equity markets over the past month after strong results from hyperscalers – massive cloud service providers – heightened expectations about data centre buildouts and the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East boosted risk appetite.