A new five-year plan aimed at fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been published, with a strong emphasis on enhancing their access to equity financing. The plan, released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and nine other departments, includes measures to build a database for cultivating quality SME listings and promote regular equity financing connections. It also focuses on deepening the "Little Giant" board within regional equity markets, building a "tech board" in the bond market to support SME debt financing, and leveraging venture capital to channel more social funds into early-stage and hard-tech investments.

At the 2026 World Power Battery Conference, a vice minister highlighted the critical period for China's power battery industry to improve quality and expand its advantages. The ministry plans to bolster the sector through enhanced technological innovation, stronger standard-setting, standardized competitive practices, and expanded application scenarios, pushing the industry towards a more high-end, intelligent, green, and internationally competitive future.

Gold prices have rebounded after a recent pullback, with spot gold climbing back above $4,400 per ounce. Following a previous session where prices briefly dipped below the $4,300 mark before quickly recovering, the market is experiencing volatility due to shifting policy expectations. This comes as the first half of 2026 saw over 70% of listed automakers report profitability, with commercial vehicle manufacturers emerging as a particularly strong segment.

Mainland A-share markets ended a session of shrinking volume and volatile trading with slight gains, as the index hovered near the flatline. Despite a further contraction in market turnover, which totaled 1.78 trillion yuan, sentiment was buoyed by sustained interest in the liquid cooling server sector and a strong performance from the non-bank financial sector. Institutional analysts suggest the market may be entering a favorable window for increasing positions.

Hong Kong's stock market has seen significant share buyback activity in 2026, with total repurchases exceeding HK$100 billion, a year-on-year increase of over 55% in shares repurchased. Concurrently, major shareholders are actively increasing their stakes in companies across the AI, innovative drug, and real estate sectors, even as the Hang Seng Index has seen a slight decline this year.

The recovery in the CRO (Contract Research Organization) industry is expected to accelerate in the latter half of the year. Industry sources indicate that increased research funding and a pick-up in business development deals within the innovative drug sector have boosted pharmaceutical companies' willingness to pay for external R&D services. This is leading to a rise in both the volume and pricing of orders for CRO firms.

The price of tantalum, a key metal for AI computing infrastructure, has surged by nearly 160% in the first half of the year, outperforming other industrial metals. This rally is driven by a combination of resource constraints, surging demand from AI data centers, and a rigid supply-demand gap. Beyond its traditional role as an industrial additive, tantalum is now being recognized as a strategic material crucial for supporting AI infrastructure, prompting Chinese companies to accelerate investment in resources and high-end material technology.

Financial results from listed companies in the coal-coke-steel sector reveal a reshaping of the industry landscape. The first half of the year showed a pattern of improving profits for upstream players, reduced losses for midstream companies, and divergent performance downstream, moving away from the cyclical swings that have historically characterized the sector.

Expectations of potential currency intervention by Japanese authorities have influenced the US Treasury market, cooling a recent sell-off in long-dated bonds. However, concerns over fiscal credibility persist, as Japan's new fiscal year budget assumes a higher interest rate of 3.8%, the highest in 30 years. This has led to speculation that US 30-year Treasury yields could test 5.5% or higher if Japan intervenes again. In response to shifts in dollar credit confidence, several central banks are relocating physical gold reserves to diversify risk against potential crises.

MANYCORE TECH (HK: 00068), once a high-flying stock and the first from the "Hangzhou Six Tigers" to list, has seen its share price plummet over 80% from its peak. The company's market value has evaporated by over HK$60 billion since its listing, with analysts attributing the decline to cooling market sentiment and the significant challenges the company faces in its transition to the physical AI sector.

A new breakthrough in high-temperature superconductor technology has been reported, potentially advancing China's autonomy in this critical field. A research team has successfully developed an iron-based alloy base for superconductor tapes, which shows significantly better key performance indicators than traditional materials. This development has coincided with thirteen related concept stocks reporting profit growth in the first half of the year.

The Ministry of Commerce has stated its commitment to enhancing the environment for inbound tourism and spending. Citing "China Travel" and "China Shopping" trends, it noted that overseas visitors spent 263.6 billion yuan in China from January to July, a 27.8% increase year-on-year. The number of overseas tourists processing departure tax refunds also grew more than threefold during this period.

Strong interest in the liquid cooling server sector on the stock market reflects an industry shift from pilot testing to large-scale delivery. Companies like JinFu Technology and Shandong Jindi Precision Machinery hit their daily price limits, and analysts see the third quarter as a critical inflection point for the commercial adoption of liquid cooling technology.

Securities firms are publishing their recommended stock picks for September, showing a balanced approach between offense and defense. A survey of 39 brokerages reveals 243 A-shares in their monthly selections, with a preference for high-growth sectors like electronics and biomedicine, while also maintaining allocations to high-dividend and resource-related assets as a defensive anchor.

Private equity firms conducted over 6,100 research visits in August, a dramatic increase of 289.61% from the previous month. The data shows 1,072 private institutions covered 599 different stocks, with the semiconductor industry receiving the most attention amid the flurry of interim earnings reports.