Hong Kong shares ended down on Thursday as mainland markets closed slightly higher as gains in semiconductor and AI shares overshadowed losses in financial, consumer and property equities.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended down 322 points, or 1.3 percent, at 25,006 on turnover of HK$356.34 billion.

The China enterprises index fell 98 points, or 1.2 percent, to 8,364 while the tech index was 18 points, or 0.4 percent, lower at 4,888, weighed down by a sharp fall in profit from e-commerce group PDD Holdings after shares of the company in New York fell 10 percent overnight.

Shares of chip giant Hua Hong jumped more than 11 percent in Hong Kong.

Mainland property developers listed in Hong Kong fell 1.5 percent while materials shares slumped 3.8 percent.

Hong Kong shares of Chinese EV maker NIO jumped as much as 11 percent after the company's new SUV model launch.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed four points, or 0.12 percent, up at 4,098, on turnover of 1.36 trillion yuan.

The Shenzhen Component Index was 125 points, or 0.8 percent, higher at 15,861 on turnover of 1.61 trillion yuan while the ChiNext Index gained 79 points, or 1.96 percent, up at 4,125 on turnover of 768.2 billion yuan.

The 5G Communication Index rose 2.7 percent, with optical transceiver maker Zhongji Innolight up nearly 8 percent.

The CSI Semiconductor Index rose 1.4 percent.

Investor attention has shifted towards hardware technology sectors seen as representing China's push for advanced productive forces, analysts at Western Securities said.

As memory chipmaker CXMT moved closer to its initial public offering, investment in AI infrastructure is gaining momentum, they said.

In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 Index slipped 306 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 64,693. The broader Topix slid 16 points, or 0.41 percent, to 3,902.

In Seoul, the high-flying Kospi ended 43 points, or 0.53 percent, at 8,185. (Reuters & Xinhua)



Edited by Edmond Fong