The Zhitong Finance App learned that on August 19, the three major A-share indices collectively opened lower, and the market opened lower in early trading, showing a pattern of “collective index decline, individual stocks generally falling, and defensive sectors such as coal and real estate being relatively resistant to decline”. By the midday close, the Shanghai Index fell 1.96% to 3912.17 points, the Shenzhen Index fell 3.97% to 14041.76 points, the GEM index fell 4.98% to 3520.97 points; Science and Technology Innovation 50 fell 6.07%, and the Beijing Stock Exchange 50 fell 3.7%.
More than 4,900 stocks fell in the entire market. Only about 580 stocks rose, 31 rose or stopped, and 36 fell to a halt. The Shanghai and Shenzhen markets traded about 1.62 trillion yuan in half a day, down about 18.2 billion yuan from the previous trading day.
Overview of the plate
On the upward side, sectors such as coal, banking, petroleum and petrochemicals, and real estate are relatively resistant to falling. On the downside, sectors such as semiconductors, CPO, memory chips, humanoid robots, and electronic chemicals led the decline. Overall, due to the heavy downturn in US technology stocks overnight, risk aversion in the market heated up, and capital escaped profits from high-ranking technology sectors to defensive sectors such as coal, banking, petroleum, and petrochemicals.
Popular sections
1. The coal sector bucked the trend and strengthened
The coal sector opened high. Baotailong, Shaanxi Heimao, Dayou Energy, and Meijin Energy rose and stopped, while Zhengzhou Coal and Electricity, Liaoning Energy, Yunmei Energy, and Hengyuan Coal and Power continued to rise.
Comment: According to the news, on August 18, mainstream coke companies in Hebei, Shanxi and other places sent a letter to raise coke prices, an increase of 50-55 yuan/ton, which is scheduled to be implemented at 0:00 on the 20th; according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, industrial raw coal production in July was 343 million tons, a new low since October 2021, down 10.1% year on year, the biggest drop since November 2016; compounded by peak summer high temperatures to boost electricity demand.
2. The real estate sector bucked the trend and was active
The real estate sector is showing active performance. I love my family and Nandu properties are rising and falling, while home building materials in the real estate industry chain are rising in the direction of Zhibang Home Furnishing, Ropuskin, and Good Wife.
Comment: According to the news, on August 18, the State Council issued the “Decision of the State Council to Amend the 'Housing Provident Fund Administration Regulations'”, which will take effect on September 20, 2026. Withdrawal of housing provident funds to pay rent will no longer set an income threshold, add withdrawal situations such as renovating self-occupied housing and paying property fees for self-occupied housing, and support flexible workers to participate in the housing provident fund system.
3. The petroleum and petrochemical sector is supported by oil prices
The petroleum and petrochemical sector registered the highest increase. Shipping concepts changed simultaneously, and Nanjing Port went up and down.
Comment: According to the news, negotiations between the US and Iran reached an impasse after the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding on August 17. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was blocked, international oil prices rose, Brent crude oil rose to about 91 US dollars/barrel, and WTI crude oil rose to about 85 US dollars/barrel. The rise in oil prices supported the petroleum, petrochemical and shipping sectors.
4. The banking sector bucked the trend and rose
The banking sector fluctuated higher, with China CITIC Bank, Bank of Chengdu, and Bank of Nanjing leading the way in gains.
Comment: According to the news, the three major US stock indices collectively closed down overnight. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plummeted 4.98%, the 30-year US Treasury yield rose to 5.31%, a record high since 2007, global risk appetite shrank, and capital turned to high-dividend defense sectors such as banks.