15.04.202602:16:23UTC+00China Stocks Remain on Firm Footing

The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.4% to 4,043 on Wednesday, reaching a new one‑month high, while the Shenzhen Component Index inched up 0.1% to 14,658, hovering near its strongest level since January 2022. Sentiment was supported by optimism over renewed US–Iran negotiations and signs of a rebound in China’s early‑2026 growth.

Washington and Tehran are preparing for a second round of talks in the coming days, with President Donald Trump indicating that negotiations could resume “within the next two days” in Pakistan. At the same time, China’s economy is forecast to grow 4.8% year-on-year in the first quarter, a slight improvement from the 4.5% expansion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, which marked the slowest pace since the post‑pandemic reopening in 2022.

The protracted conflict in the Middle East has so far had only a limited impact on China, helped by years of efforts to enhance energy security and build resilience against external shocks. Among notable movers, Agricultural Bank of China rose 1.2%, Foxconn gained 1%, Zhongji Innolight advanced 4%, and Luxshare Precision Industry added 2.7%.