Hong Kong stocks rose 59 points, or 0.2%, to 26,013 in Wednesday morning trade, trying to build on gains from the prior session amid strength in U.S. futures as Wall Street awaited clarity on the Iran conflict. Robust trade data in China continued to support sentiment, as both exports and imports grew more than expected in the first two months of 2025, reflecting resilient external and internal demand. On the corporate front, Chinese EV maker NIO reported its first-ever quarterly net profit in Q4 2025, driven by record sales and strong margins, narrowing its full-year loss. However, gains were tempered by worries that China’s lower 2026 GDP target and solid exports could prompt Beijing to delay fresh stimulus this year. Consumer and tech stocks led the rise, while property and financials weighed. Early risers included Geely Auto (3.9%), China Hongqiao Group (2.5%), Orient Overseas (2.4%), and Knowledge Atlas (2.1%).
