Hong Kong and mainland stocks closed little changed on Tuesday as a retreat in artificial intelligence and technology shares offset gains in energy stocks driven by concerns over escalating Middle East tensions.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended up 17 points, or 0.1 percent, at 25,471 on turnover of HK$255.54 billion.

The tech index was 42 points, or 0.9 percent, lower at 4,739 while the China enterprises index was up 13 points, or 0.2 percent, at 8,453.

Up north, the Shanghai Composite Index ended up seven points, or 0.19 percent, at 3,990 on turnover of 1.14 trillion yuan.

The Shenzhen Component Index fell 81 points, or 0.56 percent, to close at 14,622 on turnover of 1.27 trillion while the ChiNext Index dropped 34 points, or 0.92 percent, to 3,705 on turnover of 606 billion yuan.

Memory chip maker Changxin Technology eased ⁠4.2 percent, giving back some of Monday's 12 percent surge that had lifted the stock to an all-time high.

Analysts at Huaan ⁠Securities expect the AI supply chain to continue to gain momentum, with its strong performance likely to be validated during the mid-August earnings season.

Against the broad declines, oil and coal stocks rose as stalled talks to end the US-Iran war and fears of an imminent escalation sent oil prices higher.

PetroChina was up more than two percent.

Onshore consumer staples shares rose 0.9 percent despite data showing China's economy lost momentum at the start of the second half, with industrial output and retail sales slowing as extreme weather disruptions and persistently weak domestic demand renew pressure on policy.

With several major consumer-sector firms reporting earnings this week, the results bear close monitoring for further clues on demand trends, UBS analysts said in a note.

The robot industry index ended 2.5 percent up, with Leader Harmonious Drive Systems up 5.1 percent, ahead of humanoid-robot giant Unitree's market debut on Wednesday.

In Tokyo, then Nikkei share average snapped a five-day winning streak in plunging 1,759 points, or 2.5 percent, to end at 67,460 as a stalemate in the Middle East conflict drove up oil prices and amid renewed worries over bond market risks and inflation.

The broader Topix lost almost 44 points, or 1.1 percent, to 4,140.

In Seoul, the Kospi ended 108 points, or 1.55 percent, lower at 6,869 after hitting a one-month high earlier in the session. (Reuters/Xinhua)



Edited by Tony Sabine