Market Recap: Shanghai Index Retreats After Four-Day Gain Streak, Stablecoin Themes Shine Amid Innovation Pressure

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The Chinese stock market experienced a pullback on June 26, halting a four-day winning streak for the Shanghai Composite Index. Despite strong performances in sectors like military tech, cross-border payments, banking, and oil & gas, broader sentiment weakened as innovation-driven fields such as biopharma and semiconductors faced selling pressure. With over 3,600 stocks declining and trading volume slightly down at 1.58 trillion yuan, investor caution returned—yet stablecoin-related equities continued to draw strong interest.

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Market Overview: Volatility Returns Amid Sector Rotation

Equity markets opened with momentum but closed lower after an intraday reversal, led by declines in the ChiNext Index, which dropped 0.66%. The Shanghai Composite fell 0.22%, while the Shenzhen Component lost 0.48%. Total turnover reached 1.58 trillion yuan—down 196 billion from the previous session—indicating reduced risk appetite.

A total of 63 stocks hit涨停 (limit-up), while 23 failed to hold their gains (炸板), resulting in a 73% board closure rate. New Tonglian extended its rally to five consecutive涨停, making it the current market leader. Jilin University Zhengyuan followed closely with four straight涨停, signaling strength in select themes.

Despite the broad retreat, several notable performers stood out:

In the Nasdaq-style Beijing Stock Exchange, Pateer surged 30cm on its first涨停 day, highlighting ongoing appetite for high-growth potential names.

Investor Sentiment and Momentum Shifts

Market breadth deteriorated, with more than 3,600 stocks declining. The连板 (consecutive涨停) success rate dropped to just 33.33%, reflecting weakening momentum among speculative plays. High-fliers like Nuo De Shares, previously a multi-day gainer, saw sharp reversals in afternoon trading.

However, resilience remained in certain pockets:

Banks emerged as a safe haven, with major state-owned lenders and over ten banking stocks reaching new highs. Oil, gas, and shipping also attracted capital inflows—signaling renewed risk-off behavior ahead of the June quarter-end liquidity crunch.

Key Themes Driving Market Action

Military Equipment Gains Traction

The defense sector maintained strength, supported by improving order visibility. Galaxy Securities forecast that military component orders would rebound in June, with stronger growth expected in the second half due to renewed procurement cycles.

Notable performers included:

Even without a full-tier连板 structure like past battery-themed rallies, leading players such as Beifang Changlong and Changcheng Jun Gong hit all-time highs—creating tailwinds for underperforming peers in drones, radar systems, and commercial space ventures.

Stablecoin Momentum Builds on Policy Tailwinds

Hong Kong’s government released its Digital Asset Development Policy Declaration 2.0, emphasizing real-world tokenization use cases and diversified applications. This policy boost reignited investor enthusiasm for stablecoin-related equities.

Top performers:

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Meanwhile, Guotai Junan International, which surged 198% the prior day on crypto trading license news, reversed course—up nearly 90% intraday before closing down over 4%. This volatility spilled into broader financials, pressuring券商 (securities firms) and多元金融 (diversified finance) stocks despite strong showings from Guosheng Jinke and Hongye Futures.

Still, given deep institutional involvement and sustained interest in stablecoins, a near-term rebound in financials remains likely—especially in under-the-radar names like Tianfeng Securities, which showed intraday strength.

Solid-State Battery Sector Faces Profit-Taking

U.S.-listed QuantumScape jumped over 30% overnight following breakthroughs in solid-state lithium-metal battery technology—spurring early gains in related Chinese stocks.

Domestic players reacted strongly at the open:

Yet momentum persisted in upstream materials:

This pattern suggests that even if top-tier names correct, the overall theme remains supported by continuous emergence of new entrants—keeping sentiment resilient.

Consumer Stocks Rebound on Policy and Sentiment Boost

The People's Bank of China and five other ministries jointly issued guidelines to strengthen financial support for consumption, outlining 19 measures to boost spending. This policy backdrop helped lift tourism, retail, and food & beverage sectors.

Catalysts included:

Compared to high-flying "new economy" consumer themes that have already seen extended runs, traditional consumption plays offered better value—drawing fund rotation into undervalued segments.

However, similar to how financials reacted to Hong Kong catalysts yesterday, sustained momentum will depend on continued policy follow-through and real economic improvement—not just short-term speculation.

Outlook: Technical Correction or Deeper Pause?

All three major indices posted intraday highs before retreating—a sign of profit-taking pressure. While over 3,600 stocks fell, only one stock hit跌停 (limit-down), suggesting selling remained orderly rather than panicked.

Key technical observations:

If the index can stabilize around this level or the Bollinger midline support, a renewed upward move remains possible. However, with June-end liquidity constraints looming, caution is warranted—especially for positions in overheated sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did innovation-heavy sectors like biopharma and semiconductors decline?
A: These sectors faced profit-taking after strong prior runs. Additionally, lack of near-term catalysts and rising risk aversion led investors to rotate into safer or policy-supported areas like banking and defense.

Q: Is the stablecoin rally sustainable?
A: Yes—driven by Hong Kong’s proactive digital asset policies and growing institutional interest in tokenized assets. Real-world use cases could provide long-term validation beyond speculation.

Q: What does the drop in连板 success rate indicate?
A: It signals weakening momentum in short-term speculation. Traders are becoming more selective, favoring fundamentally sound or policy-backed names over pure momentum plays.

Q: Are bank stocks still attractive?
A: They serve as defensive plays amid uncertainty. With many hitting new highs on strong fundamentals and dividend yields, they may continue to outperform during volatile periods.

Q: How should investors position for July?
A: Focus on sectors with solid earnings visibility—defense, select consumer staples, and regulated fintech innovations. Avoid chasing extended rallies; instead, look for低位补涨 opportunities.

Q: Will solid-state battery stocks recover?
A: Likely—especially among upstream material suppliers. As long as technological progress continues globally, periodic corrections create entry points rather than trend reversals.

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Core Keywords

With strong policy support, improving technical setups in select sectors, and ongoing global tech advancements influencing domestic markets, investors should remain alert to both risks and emerging opportunities in this transitional phase.