The Shanghai Composite climbed 1.3% to 3,944 on Wednesday, while the Shenzhen Component gained 1.2% to 13,639, tracking gains across Asian peers as hopes grew for a near-term resolution to the Middle East war. President Trump said US forces would end operations in Iran in two to three weeks, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed willingness to end hostilities if safeguards are in place.
Meanwhile, 43 Shanghai- and Shenzhen-listed firms pledged 25.6 billion yuan in share buybacks, the most in nearly a year, as the conflict pressured stock prices. On the economic front, a private survey showed manufacturing PMI fell to 50.8 in March from 52.1 in February, indicating a moderation in factory activity. Financial stocks led gains, with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Merchants Bank, and Bank of China rising 0.5% to 1.6%, while technology names such as Zhongji Innolight, Eoptolink Technology, and Naura Technology added 2.6% to 3.5%.
