Bloomberg estimated that mainland Chinese equities have shed $2.4 trillion in market value since a May high, as investors reassess AI infrastructure spending and contend with soft domestic demand.
The CSI 300, a separate benchmark, closed at 4,036.30 on Oct. 22 after dropping 1.8% that session. Reuters reported that the close was 20.2% below the index’s June 22 closing level, placing the benchmark in a technical bear market.
The $2.4 trillion figure covers aggregate mainland share-market value from a May peak; the CSI 300 comparison follows one index from a June close. EconoTimes previously covered the CSI 300’s entry into bear-market territory.
China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that retail sales of consumer goods totaled 4,243.3 billion yuan in September, up 1.1% year over year. Sales also increased 1.1% over the first nine months of 2026. The bureau said those increases were not adjusted for price changes. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.5% year over year in the third quarter and 4.6% over the first three quarters, according to preliminary NBS accounting.
Bloomberg reported the Hang Seng TECH Index had fallen 31% for the year as investors questioned whether heavy AI infrastructure spending would produce sufficient profits. It also cited weak domestic demand and the lack of a broad spending package among factors weighing on sentiment.
Late-2024 stimulus measures helped start a rally, Bloomberg reported, while enthusiasm for Chinese AI later added momentum. The outlet said that earlier optimism has since given way to concerns about demand and the returns on AI projects.
The NBS calendar schedules its next National Economic Performance release for Nov. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Nov. 15 (10 a.m. China Standard Time on Nov. 16).
