Hong Kong and mainland stocks fell on Tuesday as a mild rebound in AI hardware shares failed to offset losses elsewhere, with mixed August data pointing to persistently weak domestic demand.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended 250 points, or one percent, at 24,667 on turnover of HK$187.20 billion.

The tech index dropped 26 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,291 even as Tencent rose nearly two percent while the China enterprises index fell 79 points, or one percent, to 8,204.

Shares of Guangdong Tianyu Semiconductor jumped more than seven percent on the company's share buyback plan.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended down 21 points, or 0.54 percent, at 3,864.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 96 points, or 0.72 percent, lower at 13,287 while the ChiNext lost 37 points, or 1.15 percent, to close at 3,247.

The losses came as industrial output picked up pace in August on the mainland, though sluggish consumption and a worsening investment slump reinforced concerns.

Meanwhile, new home prices fell again in August, underscoring persistent weakness in the housing market.

The CSI 300 Financial and Real Estate Index fell around one percent each, while consumer staple shares lost 0.6 percent.

"Following weaker-than-expected credit demand, August activity data reinforced our view that a recovery in domestic demand remains elusive," Barclays analysts said in a note, adding that they maintain their below-consensus 2026 GDP growth forecast of 4.5 percent.

The tech-focused Star50 Index rose up to three percent, rebounding for the first time in a week from a four-and-a-half-month low.

The CSI Semiconductor Material and Equipment Thematic Index gained 3.2 percent.

Onshore sentiment has weakened over the past month, after investors took profits from a record-breaking AI-led rally earlier this year.

Liquidity has also dried up.

Daily turnover of onshore shares hovered near the lowest level since April over the past week.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei erased early gains to end just under nine points down at 63,484 as SoftBank Group rebounded from a selloff.

The broader Topix fell 21 points, or 0.52 percent, to 4,037.

In Seoul, the Kospi ended 57 points, or 0.85 percent, at 6,627 after swinging between a gain of 0.5 percent and a loss of 1.5 percent during the session. (Reuters/Xinhua)



Edited by Tony Sabine