Here is a summary of key financial and economic developments.
Where to begin
China's Ministry of Commerce has addressed the temporary export ban on helium, stating that the policy will be adjusted based on changes in domestic and international supply and demand. The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference opened today, featuring the global debut of over 300 products and the release of the world's largest open-source model by parameter count, Kimi K3. The first batch of actively managed Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) products is set to be formally submitted, with 18 products in the initial pilot phase.
Commerce Ministry on China-Netherlands relations
A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce stated that over the decade since establishing a comprehensive open and pragmatic partnership, bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and the Netherlands has deepened. During a recent visit, the two sides held a meeting, engaging in candid and in-depth discussions on China-Netherlands and China-Europe economic relations. Both parties agreed that their governments should foster a favorable environment, encouraging companies to resolve disputes through negotiation to ensure the security and stability of the global semiconductor supply chain.
Helium export management policy
In response to queries regarding the temporary export ban on helium, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson clarified that China is a major importer of helium. To safeguard domestic supply, the Ministry and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued an announcement implementing the temporary export restriction. This measure complies with relevant provisions of China's Foreign Trade Law and World Trade Organization rules. Future adjustments to the export management policy will be made in accordance with shifts in global helium supply and demand.
Seawater desalination development plan
To accelerate the high-quality development of the seawater desalination industry, several Chinese government departments have jointly issued an action plan. The plan sets a target to achieve a total national seawater desalination capacity exceeding 4.5 million tons per day by 2030, representing an increase of over 1.5 million tons per day.
Enhancements to tax refunds for tourists
China's State Taxation Administration has issued a notice introducing multiple measures to make the processing of tax refunds for departing tourists more intelligent and convenient, thereby improving the service for overseas visitors. The notice outlines efforts to upgrade the system, enabling the electronic flow of refund application forms and sales invoices to support fully paperless processing. Tax authorities are to enhance guidance to refund shops and agencies to ensure efficient operation of the paperless system.
Revised guidelines for quality housing
The draft "Guidelines for Building 'Good Houses' (Trial)" which was open for public comment earlier this year, has been revised and is once again seeking public feedback. The updated draft details the core concepts of safety, comfort, environmental sustainability, and intelligence for modern quality housing.
World AI Conference kicks off
The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance commenced in Shanghai. With the theme "Intelligent Partners, Co-creating the Future," the event features over 1,100 exhibitors showcasing more than 3,000 products, including over 300 global debuts. The signing ceremony for the agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was held on July 16.
Beijing Stock Exchange monitors delisting stock
The Beijing Stock Exchange has placed heightened monitoring on the stock "Yunchuang Tui" after it entered the delisting period. Following consecutive price increases and abnormal volatility, the exchange has taken disciplinary actions, including suspending trading for 44 investor accounts involved in irregular trading activities, to maintain orderly market conditions. Investors are reminded to be aware of trading risks.
Hong Kong exchange data for H1 2026
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing released its review for the first half of 2026. The average daily turnover for Stock Connect southbound trading was HK$123.1 billion, up 10.9% year-on-year. The average daily turnover for northbound trading was RMB 345.3 billion, surging 101.6% year-on-year.
China leads in new concentrated solar power capacity
Latest statistics indicate that China has become the main contributor to new global concentrated solar power (CSP) installations. By the end of June 2026, China had 24 operational CSP projects with a total capacity of 2.1 GW, ranking second globally. An additional 26 projects with 3.2 GW capacity are under construction.
Power and energy storage battery sales surge
Data shows that in June, sales of power and energy storage batteries in China reached 196.0 GWh, increasing 7.6% month-on-month and 49.1% year-on-year. Power battery sales accounted for 68.1% of the total at 133.4 GWh, while energy storage battery sales made up 31.9% at 62.6 GWh.
Actively managed ETFs set for launch
The first batch of actively managed ETF products is poised for formal submission to regulators. The initial pilot involves 18 products managed by 18 fund companies, which are expected to submit registration applications to the China Securities Regulatory Commission shortly.
Summer box office performance
As of the evening of July 16, the total box office for the first half of the 2026 summer movie season reached RMB 3.534 billion. "Kung Fu Women's Soccer" currently leads the chart. Seven of the top ten films are domestic productions.
Release of massive AI model
Ahead of the World AI Conference, the new-generation model Kimi K3 was released on July 16. With 2.8 trillion parameters, it is currently the world's largest open-source model by this measure, marking a new step in China's AI model development.
New listing on Beijing bourse
Longxin Intelligent, a national-level specialized and sophisticated "Little Giant" enterprise, listed on the Beijing Stock Exchange on July 16. The company, which has focused on high-end micro-nano composite material preparation equipment for over two decades, becomes the 328th listed company on the exchange. So far in 2026, 41 new stocks have listed on the Beijing bourse, 36 of which are national-level "Little Giant" firms, accounting for nearly 90%.
Chipmaker's IPO subscription details
Changxin Technology announced the subscription results and lottery rate for its initial public offering on the STAR Market. The offering price was set at RMB 8.66 per share. Valid online subscriptions totaled over 816.9 billion shares from approximately 9.43 million accounts. The final online lottery rate was approximately 0.47141739%.
Search engine giant shifts primary listing venue
Baidu Inc announced its intention to voluntarily change its secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to a primary listing, expected to take effect within the year. Upon completion, Baidu will have a dual-primary listing structure on both the Hong Kong and Nasdaq exchanges. Its Class A ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares will continue to be traded on both exchanges and remain interchangeable. Market analysts suggest that if the process proceeds smoothly and inclusion criteria are met, Baidu could potentially be added to the Stock Connect scheme during the next review in September.
Chip design firm reports strong new orders
VeriSilicon Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co Ltd announced that from January 1 to July 16, 2026, it secured new orders totaling RMB 14.653 billion. The vast majority are for its one-stop chip customization services, which have clear conversion prospects, though revenue recognition will take time. Orders from April 30 to July 16 amounted to RMB 6.413 billion, with over 90% related to AI computing power and data processing.
GPU company forecasts robust revenue growth
Moore Threads Intelligent Technology Beijing Co Ltd expects its revenue for the first half of 2026 to be between RMB 1.65 billion and RMB 1.75 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 135.12% to 149.37. The company attributed the rapid growth to the booming AI industry, strong market demand for full-feature GPUs, and the accelerated commercialization of its Kuae computing cluster. Its flagship product has achieved leading performance levels and entered mass production.
Processor designer anticipates profit jump
Hygon Information Technology Co Ltd forecasts its net profit attributable to shareholders for the first half of 2026 to be between RMB 1.70 billion and RMB 1.83 billion, an increase of 41.50% to 52.32% year-on-year. The company continues to optimize its "CPU + DCU" business layout. Driven by rapid AI model iteration, widespread application of AI agents, and the commercialization of domestic alternatives, the company has increased R&D investment and improved product performance, leading to rapid revenue and profit growth.
Taiwan chipmaker's earnings beat estimates
On July 16, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported its second-quarter 2026 results. Net profit surged 77.4%, significantly exceeding market expectations. On the same day, TSMC announced an additional $100 billion investment in the United States.
EU imposes new rules on tech giant
The European Commission announced two legally binding corrective measures against U.S. tech company Google under the Digital Markets Act. The measures require Google to open up AI-related functions of its Android operating system to competitors and to share search data with third-party search engines to enhance digital market competition. Google must implement the measures according to a set timeline, with data sharing starting in January 2027 and an improved Android system available to users from July 2027.
US military actions in Middle East
U.S. Central Command stated that on the evening of July 16, U.S. forces conducted strikes against Iran for the "sixth consecutive night" to further degrade Iran's military capabilities. Earlier, the White House Press Secretary stated that Iran is still actively communicating with the U.S. and expressed a desire to reach an agreement, with communications ongoing. She placed responsibility for the strikes on Iran, citing violations of a memorandum and attacks on commercial vessels.
US retail sales data
Preliminary data from the U.S. Commerce Department showed that U.S. retail and food services sales in June were $768.6 billion, a month-on-month increase of 0.2%. This was below market expectations of 0.3% and the revised 1% from the previous period.
US manufacturing index climbs
The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's manufacturing index for July rose to 41.4, reaching its highest level since 2021.
US jobless claims dip
The number of Americans filing initial jobless claims for the week came in at 208,000, lower than the market forecast of 220,000 and the previous week's revised figure of 216,000.
US homebuilder sentiment weakens
The National Association of Home Builders' housing market index for July was 34, below the market expectation of 35 and the previous month's revised reading of 36.
Strait shipping activity remains low
Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz remained subdued. Data showed only 13 commercial vessels transited the strait, with traffic at about one-tenth of the pre-conflict average.
Excess deaths reported in Europe
In June, approximately ten European countries recorded a cumulative total of at least 12,000 excess deaths. This figure is considered provisional and is expected to rise as more data is released.
Brazil criticizes US tariff move
Brazil's Foreign Minister stated that the U.S. decision to impose additional 25% tariffs on certain Brazilian imports lacks any factual basis and is "politically motivated." The U.S. Trade Representative announced the final action under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Japanese cabinet approval rating falls
The latest opinion poll shows the approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister's cabinet has continued to decline, dropping below 50%, while the disapproval rate has risen.
South Korea tightens rules on leveraged ETFs
South Korea's Financial Services Commission announced new regulatory measures targeting single-stock leveraged ETFs. The rules include raising the minimum margin requirement and restricting purchases to 20 shares per transaction for single-stock leveraged trading. Additionally, the listing of new single-stock leveraged products will be prohibited.
Asian and US markets decline
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index fell sharply by 6.37%, closing below the 7,000-point level at 6,820.60. Japanese stock indices also fell significantly. U.S. stock indices closed lower, dragged down by declines in chip and tech stocks. Following the regulatory changes in South Korea, the U.S.-listed shares of SK Hynix Inc fell over 13%.
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