All Three Major Indices Open Lower but Close Higher, Ending in the Red; Military Stocks Continue to Surge, AI Hardware Sector Rebounds Collectively [Stock Market Review]

The market opened lower and closed higher throughout the day, with the ChiNext Index leading the gains. The total trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges reached RMB 1.29 trillion, a decrease of RMB 174.9 billion from the previous trading day. On the futures market, hot topics rotated rapidly, with more stocks rising than falling. Over 3,800 stocks across the market advanced. In terms of sectors, military stocks continued to surge, with over 20 stocks, including AVIC Chengfei, hitting the daily limit. AI hardware stocks rebounded, with Walvax Biotech hitting the daily limit. The ST sector was active, with nearly 40 stocks, including ST Ruihe, hitting the daily limit. On the downside, PEEK material concept stocks adjusted, with Xinhan New Materials falling over 10%. By the close, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.28%, the Shenzhen Component Index rose 0.93%, and the ChiNext Index rose 1.65%.

Sector Analysis

In the sector, military stocks remained strong, with stocks such as AVIC Chengfei, Huawu Corporation, Haoneng Corporation, Lijun Corporation, Chengfei Integration, and Tongda Cable hitting the daily limit.

Huatai Securities believes that the fundamentals of the military industry in 25Q1 may already be in a recovery trend. On one hand, starting from 2025, multiple countries have increased their defense budgets, leading to a significant increase in global military spending and a more active global arms trade market. On the other hand, 2025 marks the final year of the "14th Five-Year Plan," and previously pent-up demand is expected to be released rapidly. Since February 2025, the fundamentals of some enterprises have shown significant improvement, particularly in the aerospace and missile segments. Some upstream enterprises have seen notable improvements in their order volumes both year-over-year (YoY) and month-over-month (MoM), reflecting an increase in downstream demand on the balance sheet. Additionally, order data disclosed by some enterprises also indicate that the downstream sector is gradually entering a high-growth phase. Therefore, from a medium and long-term perspective, military stocks still hold allocation value.

However, it should be noted that the military sector has surged with increased trading volume for two consecutive days amid event-driven catalysts, and short-term sentiment may be approaching a peak. Internal disagreements among individual stocks within the sector may intensify going forward, so it is advisable to focus on core front-runner stocks.

AI hardware sectors, including CPO and high-speed copper cable connections, rebounded. New Flyoff and InnoLight Technology both rose over 10%, while Walvax Biotech and Cambridge Industries Group hit the daily limit. Other stocks, such as TFC Communication, Linktel Technologies, Zhaolong Interconnection, and Tera Photonics, also led the gains. On the news front, a spokesperson for the US Department of Commerce stated on Wednesday that President Trump plans to lift restrictions imposed during the Biden administration on the export of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips.

From a market perspective, the AI hardware sector, represented by CPO, includes some technology heavyweights with relatively high earnings certainty. The previous adjustments were more driven by sentiment expectations. Today, under the aforementioned event-driven catalysts, the traces of capital inflow and allocation are evident. Therefore, the subsequent trend is worth monitoring. If the rebound can continue, it will have a strong driving effect on both the index and short-term sentiment.

The concept of magnetic levitation compressors is gradually gaining traction, with individual stocks such as Shandong Zhanggu, United Precision, Baida Seiko, Xinlei Co., Ltd., Hanbell Precise Machinery, Jintongling, and Moon Environment hitting the daily limit up.

On the news front, recently, the President of Danfoss's magnetic levitation compressor business stated, "In the next three years, the demand for magnetic levitation compressors in China's data centers is expected to at least double." In 2024, Danfoss Turbocor's data center-related business in China tripled, and it is expected to grow by around 50% this year. As a relatively new topic concept in the current futures market, it is more likely to gain favour from short-term active funds. If it is further strengthened in the future, attention could also be paid to whether it extends and diffuses towards data centers and computing power directions.

Individual Stocks

At the individual stock level, although the number of stocks that fell sharply today was not large, most high-priced stocks fell into adjustment. The number of consecutive daily limit-up stocks in the market dropped to 4 today. Chongqing Three Gorges Paints Co., Ltd., which previously had 6 consecutive daily limit-ups, eventually fell by more than 4%, while Jingjin Electric, which previously had 4 consecutive 20CM daily limit-ups, fell by more than 10%. In addition, popular high-priced stocks such as QuanZhu Technology, Hongbo Co., Ltd., Hongbaoli, Zhongxin Fluorine Material, Xinhan Advanced Materials, and Hongbaoli also suffered heavy losses. It can be seen that in an environment with a lack of incremental funds, the market's willingness to chase high prices is low. On the other hand, nearly 100 stocks in the market still rose by more than 9% today, and the overall short-term heat was not low, but it was mainly centered around two lower-tier topics: military industry and compressors. Overall, compared to clustering in high-priced stocks, funds currently prefer to tap into potential in low-priced stocks. Therefore, it is still more appropriate to look for low-absorption opportunities amidst the rotation of hot topics in subsequent responses.

Outlook Analysis

Today's market opened low and closed high throughout the day, with all three major indices closing in the red, basically reversing the bearish candlesticks left yesterday. Most individual stocks rose, with fewer falling. However, it should be noted that trading volume contracted again today, and hot topics in the futures market remained relatively scattered, lacking an absolute core leading the gains. Therefore, for the future market outlook, if there is no continuous influx of incremental funds, it is still expected to maintain a structure of oscillating higher.

CITIC Securities stated in a recent research report that with the end of the earnings reporting season and the release of favorable policies, there is still room for risk appetite to rebound in May. It is recommended to focus on two major directions: first, the AI technological revolution and China's self-reliance in technology (new quality productive forces, advanced manufacturing, national defense and military industry, etc.); second, high-quality domestic circulation consumer assets that benefit from policy support for expanding domestic demand, with expected fundamental improvements and cost-effective valuations.

Market News Focus

1. CPCA: National passenger vehicle market retail sales reached 1.791 million units from April 1-30, up 17% YoY

Caijing.com.cn, May 8 - According to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), from April 1-30, retail sales in the national passenger vehicle market reached 1.791 million units, up 17% YoY and down 8% MoM. Cumulative retail sales since the beginning of the year reached 6.918 million units, up 9% YoY. From April 1-30, retail sales in the national new energy passenger vehicle market reached 922,000 units, up 37% YoY and down 7% MoM. The retail penetration rate of the new energy vehicle market was 52.3%. Cumulative retail sales since the beginning of the year reached 3.342 million units, up 37% YoY.

2. Ministry of Commerce: China is willing to strengthen cooperation with all countries to promote the healthy and sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce

Cailian Press, May 8: Starting from May 2, the US officially canceled the tax exemption policy for small-value parcels from China, prompting some retailers in certain countries to adjust or even suspend their business operations in the US. In response, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce stated that cross-border e-commerce directly meets the personalized needs of consumers in various countries, boasting unique advantages such as high efficiency, fast delivery, and cost savings. The recent cancellation of the tax exemption policy for small-value parcels from China by the US will harm the interests of enterprises and consumers in both countries, and we firmly oppose this move. I would like to emphasize that the cancellation of the tax exemption policy for small-value parcels from China by the US cannot change the momentum of the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce. We are willing to strengthen cooperation with all countries to jointly create a fair and predictable policy environment and promote the healthy and sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce.