The HSI slid 114 points or 0.6% to 20,689 at midday. The HSCEI dropped 41 points or 0.6% to 7,430. The HSTECH ebbed 11 points or 0.25% to 4,589. Total half-day turnover for the market amounted to $107.26 billion.

Chip stocks rose against the market. SMIC(688981.SH)  -1.820 (-1.867%)   surged 15% at midday, while its H-share, SMIC (00981.HK)  -0.550 (-1.858%)    Short selling $1.33B; Ratio 6.406%   , rallied 8.1% at midday. HUA HONG SEMI (01347.HK)  -0.300 (-1.288%)    Short selling $403.92M; Ratio 18.127%   advanced 5.1%.

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For other techs, TENCENT (00700.HK)  -2.200 (-0.523%)    Short selling $242.29M; Ratio 3.496%   , BABA-W (09988.HK)  -0.500 (-0.511%)    Short selling $872.34M; Ratio 13.965%   , JD-SW (09618.HK)  +1.300 (+0.839%)    Short selling $182.15M; Ratio 6.613%   , BIDU-SW (09888.HK)  -2.200 (-2.418%)    Short selling $186.90M; Ratio 25.574%   , and KUAISHOU-W (01024.HK)  +0.050 (+0.108%)    Short selling $211.40M; Ratio 11.830%   lost 1.3-1.9%, while BILIBILI-W (09626.HK)  +2.200 (+1.410%)    Short selling $197.97M; Ratio 21.023%   and NTES-S (09999.HK)  +0.500 (+0.398%)    Short selling $171.05M; Ratio 15.107%   shed 3.1% and 3.7%. XIAOMI-W (01810.HK)  +0.250 (+1.031%)    Short selling $678.49M; Ratio 16.616%   lifted 1.2%, while MEITUAN-W (03690.HK)  +1.600 (+0.883%)    Short selling $658.74M; Ratio 11.159%   faded 0.2%. Handset parts stock Q TECH (01478.HK)  +0.030 (+0.615%)    Short selling $689.96K; Ratio 4.373%   opened lower before hiking, and picked up 1% at midday as it withdrew its proposal to spin off Kunshan QT China's application for listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Gold prices broke ceiling. ZIJIN MINING (02899.HK)  -0.300 (-1.724%)    Short selling $113.65M; Ratio 13.473%   gained 2.6% as it earned 58% more in 3Q24. Metals and resources stocks prospered, with MMG (01208.HK)  +0.090 (+3.358%)    Short selling $15.02M; Ratio 14.262%   and CHINAHONGQIAO (01378.HK)  +0.320 (+2.349%)    Short selling $41.77M; Ratio 10.003%   leaping 4.2%. TRAD CHI MED (00570.HK)  +0.100 (+4.032%)    Short selling $99.77M; Ratio 3.447%   plunged 34.3% after Sinopharm Common Wealth's privatization proposal lapsed, while CHINA TOWER (00788.HK)  -0.010 (-0.917%)    Short selling $6.63M; Ratio 3.049%   ascended 1.9% as its 1Q24-3Q24 net profit rose 11% YoY. PACIFIC BASIN (02343.HK)  -0.040 (-1.709%)    Short selling $5.98M; Ratio 10.800%   mounted 3.1% as its daily average revenue of Handysize vessels increased 35% YoY in 3Q24.
(HK stocks quote is delayed for at least 15 mins.Short Selling Data as at 2024-10-21 16:25.) (A Shares quote is delayed for at least 15 mins.)