China Business Daily

21 July 2026 · 07:19 CST · Daily intelligence brief

This edition draws on 50 reports across 15 Chinese outlets.

At a Glance

  • China Reform Holdings subsidiary has used over 500 billion yuan for stock buyback, and China Chengtong has cumulatively purchased nearly 100 billion yuan of Chinese stocks, as state-backed entities lead market support. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.
  • Beijing posted 5.4% year-on-year GDP growth in H1, reaching 2.64 trillion yuan, with computer and electronic equipment manufacturing surging 28.5% and integrated circuit output up 92.1%. finance.eastmoney.com, 2026-07-20.
  • The China Securities Regulatory Commission held a symposium on July 20 with investors and market institutions to solicit opinions on market stability, as the CSI Bank Index rose 1.85% and all 42 A-share listed banks gained. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-20.

Top Stories

Markets

  • Shareholder increases, buybacks, and fund self-purchases launch as ‘three arrows’ to support market · covered by 1 outlet
  • China Reform Holdings Corporation announced its subsidiary has used over 500 billion yuan for stock buyback and market stabilization, according to the company. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.
  • China Chengtong announced it has cumulatively purchased nearly 100 billion yuan of Chinese stock assets, according to the company. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.
  • The controlling shareholder of Aluminum Corporation of China plans to increase holdings by 10 to 20 billion yuan. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.
  • Bosera Fund announced it will invest 50 million yuan of its own capital in its equity funds. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.
  • As of July 10, 2026, the equity private fund position index rose to 83.70%, a four-year high, according to private fund ranking platform Simuwang. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.
  • On July 20, daily turnover of the SSE STAR 50 ETF (华夏), ChiNext ETF (易方达), and CSI 300 ETF (华泰柏瑞) reached 234.53 billion, 194.57 billion, and 185.62 billion yuan respectively, according to Wind data. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.

  • China Pacific Insurance announced it will continue to invest in stocks and ETFs. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-21.

  • HKEX considers extending trading hours, eliminating lunch break · covered by 4 outlets

  • The move aims to enhance market liquidity and international competitiveness and to increase overlap with major global markets, according to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. finance.sina.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • HKEX is also studying an evening trading session from 8pm to midnight to overlap with US market hours, initially covering only a few actively traded large-cap stocks, according to reports. www.gelonghui.com.
  • HKEX stated its current priority is extending derivative market trading hours, not stock trading hours, and that any adjustments to cash market hours are at a very early stage of discussion, according to the exchange. finance.eastmoney.com.

  • HKEX CEO Chen Yiting stated that extending trading hours is beneficial but requires thorough analysis of risks and processes, according to the Securities Times. Securities Times.

  • Nearly 900 Shenzhen-listed firms release H1 performance forecasts signaling recovery and tech gains · covered by 2 outlets

  • As of July 18, 900 Shenzhen-listed companies disclosed 2026 H1 performance forecasts, representing 31% of all companies and 33% of market cap, according to statistical data. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • The average net profit of these companies is approximately 230.736 billion yuan, up 147% year-on-year. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • Jiangbo Long posted the highest net profit growth, with an estimated increase of 62,204.03% to 74,393.95%. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • Yunnan Aluminium expects net profit of 7.5-7.8 billion yuan, up 170.98%-181.82%. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • Hengyi Petrochemical expects net profit of 5.5-6.0 billion yuan, up 2326.31%-2546.88%. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.

  • ShannonXinchuang expects net profit of 3.5-4.0 billion yuan, up 2117.54%-2434.34% due to AI storage demand. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.

  • Hang Seng Tech index jumps 3% as Hua Hong Semiconductor rallies over 8% · covered by 5 outlets

  • The Hang Seng Tech Index expanded gains to 3% on July 20. finance.sina.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • Hua Hong Semiconductor rose over 8%, Bilibili rose over 6%, and Alibaba rose over 5%. finance.sina.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • The Hang Seng Index rose 1.626% on the day. National Business Daily, 2026-07-20.

  • Huahong Hongli and Xiaopeng Group rose over 4% in early trading, according to People’s Financial News. Securities Times.

  • Crypto concept stocks strengthen in A-share market · covered by 2 outlets

  • Cryptocurrency concept stocks strengthened overall on July 20, according to Cailianshe (财联社). Economic Observer, 2026-07-21.
  • Circle stock rose nearly 8% and BMNR rose nearly 6%, according to the same source. Economic Observer, 2026-07-21.
  • Strategy stock rose nearly 5%, Coinbase rose over 3%, and Robinhood rose over 1%, according to reports. National Business Daily, 2026-07-20.

Policy

  • CSRC to hold symposium on market stability; bank sector sees triple catalysts for valuation recovery · covered by 4 outlets
  • By noon on July 20, the CSI Bank Index rose 1.85% and all 42 A-share listed banks increased, according to 21st Century Business Herald. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-20.
  • Over the weekend of July 19, two central SOEs, China Guoxin and China Chengtong, announced large increases in Chinese stock assets, according to Cailianshe (财联社). m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-20.
  • On July 20, the China Securities Regulatory Commission held a symposium on stabilizing the market, according to the regulator. m.21jingji.com, 2026-07-20.
  • The CSRC will hold symposiums with representatives of securities firms, fund companies, and listed companies to gather market opinions, according to the regulator. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • Multiple listed companies and market institutions have received notice to attend the CSRC symposium on July 20, according to Sina Finance. finance.sina.com.cn, 2026-07-19.

Macro

  • Beijing’s H1 GDP expands 5.4% year-on-year · covered by 4 outlets
  • Beijing’s GDP grew 5.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching 2,641.19 billion yuan at constant prices, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. Securities Times, 2026-07-20.
  • Computer, communication and other electronic equipment manufacturing grew by 28.5%, with integrated circuits up 92.1%, according to the bureau. finance.eastmoney.com, 2026-07-20.
  • Automobile manufacturing declined by 15% due to weak demand for traditional fuel vehicles. finance.eastmoney.com, 2026-07-20.
  • Output of service robots surged 2.3 times, industrial robots 75.5%, new energy vehicles 18.5%, and integrated circuits 17.8%. finance.eastmoney.com, 2026-07-20.
  • Investment in high-tech manufacturing grew 36%, and in scientific research and technical services grew 87.2%. finance.eastmoney.com, 2026-07-20.

  • Retail sales of gold, silver and jewelry increased 21.4%, while automobile retail sales fell 17.2%. finance.eastmoney.com, 2026-07-20.

  • New growth drivers increasingly support China’s economy, mid-year review says · covered by 2 outlets

  • New growth drivers contributed over 40% to China’s economic growth in the first half of this year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. China Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • China’s integrated circuit output grew 23.1% year-on-year in the first half, reaching 279.8 billion units, according to the NBS. China Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • Value-added of high-tech manufacturing above designated size increased 13.3% year-on-year in the first half, according to the NBS. Securities Times.
  • New energy vehicle retail penetration exceeded 60% for three consecutive months in the first half. Securities Times.
  • Profits of industrial enterprises above designated size grew 18.8% year-on-year in the first five months, according to the NBS. China Daily, 2026-07-20.

Company

  • Central SOEs China Reform Holdings and China Chengtong lead wave of buybacks and stake increases · covered by 12 outlets
  • On the morning of July 20, CSRC Chairman Wu Qing visited a securities brokerage in Beijing and chaired an investor symposium with 8 investor representatives, including retail and institutional investors, according to the CSRC. economy.caijing.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • Investor representatives suggested strengthening counter-cyclical adjustment in primary and secondary markets, guiding medium-to-long-term funds into the market, regulating quantitative trading and AI applications, increasing dividend distributions, and raising penalties for securities violations, according to the CSRC. www.csrc.gov.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • China Life Asset Management Company made a single-day net purchase of over 100 billion yuan in A-shares and ETFs, according to the National Business Daily. National Business Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • China Pacific Insurance announced it will increase equity allocation and invest in stocks and ETFs of technology, consumption, new energy, and new quality productive forces. National Business Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • Ping An Insurance announced it will increase investment in strategic emerging industries, advanced manufacturing, new infrastructure, and value-type assets. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.
  • New China Life announced it will increase equity investment intensity and optimize asset allocation to support capital markets. National Business Daily, 2026-07-20.

  • On July 20, insurance stocks rallied: China Pacific Insurance rose 6.32%, Ping An rose 4.99%, PICC rose 4%, China Life rose 3.97%, and Xinhua Insurance rose 3.25%. finance.china.com.cn, 2026-07-20.

  • SDIC Power invests 333.94 billion yuan in hydropower joint venture with CATL · covered by 3 outlets

  • SDIC Power announced that its subsidiary Yalongjiang Hydropower and CATL will jointly invest in the Yagen II hydropower station with a total dynamic investment of 333.94 billion yuan, according to SDIC Power’s announcement. finance.eastmoney.com.
  • The station has an installed capacity of 2.4 million kW and expected annual generation of about 86.45 billion kWh, with a construction period of 101 months; the first unit is expected to begin operation in 2035 and full completion by 2036. finance.eastmoney.com.
  • In the joint venture, Yalongjiang Hydropower holds 90% and CATL holds 10%; through upstream ownership, SDIC Power effectively holds about 46.8%, Chuantou Energy about 43.2%, and CATL 10%, according to the announcement. finance.eastmoney.com.
  • As of end-2025, SDIC Power’s clean energy installed capacity accounted for 72.12% of total, with hydropower at 45.43% and new energy at 26.69%, according to the company. Securities Times.

Trade

  • Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region posts record H1 import/export volume · covered by 2 outlets
  • In June alone, exports in the region reached 1,401.3 billion yuan, an increase of 14.2%, breaking through the 140 billion yuan mark for the first time in a single month, according to Beijing Customs. People’s Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • By region, Beijing’s import and export value grew 16.5%, Tianjin’s by 2.4%, and Hebei’s by 33.2%, with Beijing accounting for 69.3% of the total, according to Beijing Customs. People’s Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • Private enterprises’ import and export value reached 711.67 billion yuan, up 21.9%, 4.9 percentage points higher than the national average for private enterprises. People’s Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • Exports of mechanical and electrical products totaled 458.32 billion yuan, up 17.4%, accounting for 59.5% of total exports; among them, automobile exports rose 29.3%, integrated circuits 82.9%, and lithium-ion batteries 145.5%, according to Beijing Customs. People’s Daily, 2026-07-20.
  • Shanghai’s total goods import and export value reached 2.55 trillion yuan in the first half of this year, up 18.6% year-on-year, with exports up 20.1% and imports up 17.4%, according to the Shanghai Statistics Bureau. Yicai.
  • High-tech product imports and exports grew 21.6% year-on-year in the first half, and exports of the ‘new three items’ doubled, according to the Shanghai Statistics Bureau. Yicai.

Also Reported

Further developments selected for today’s brief; tap a source to read the original.

Sources

50 source articles across 15 Chinese outlets. Each story below lists the outlets that corroborate it; click any source to read the original.

Shareholder increases, buybacks, and fund self-purchases launch as ‘three arrows’ to support market — 2 outlets

CSRC to hold symposium on market stability; bank sector sees triple catalysts for valuation recovery — 5 outlets

Beijing’s H1 GDP expands 5.4% year-on-year — 4 outlets

HKEX considers extending trading hours, eliminating lunch break — 4 outlets

Central SOEs China Reform Holdings and China Chengtong lead wave of buybacks and stake increases — 6 outlets

Nearly 900 Shenzhen-listed firms release H1 performance forecasts signaling recovery and tech gains — 3 outlets

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region posts record H1 import/export volume — 3 outlets

New growth drivers increasingly support China’s economy, mid-year review says — 2 outlets

Hang Seng Tech index jumps 3% as Huahong Grace shares rally over 8% — 5 outlets

Crypto concept stocks strengthen in A-share market — 2 outlets

Listed firm Guodian Power invests 33.4 billion yuan in partnership with CATL — 3 outlets

Industry contributes over 35% to China’s economic growth, official data shows — 3 outlets

China orders back taxes from firms in cross-border tax avoidance crackdown — 2 outlets

Shenghong Co. raises all product prices by 10% on raw material cost surge — 2 outlets

China’s June forex reserves stand at $3.416 trillion, showing stability — 2 outlets

China advances space-based data centers as part of ‘smart manufacturing’ push — 1 outlet

Imported durian prices drop as cold-chain rail transport expands — 1 outlet

Methodology: stories are clustered across Chinese outlets and ranked by breadth of corroboration and recency. Reporting is descriptive only and is not investment advice. Compiled 21 July 2026 07:19 CST.

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