China A-shares strengthened into the midday close. Shanghai Composite rose
0.55%, Shenzhen Composite 0.57% and the ChiNext Index 0.93%; ChiNext spiked
above 1.6% early before paring gains. Turnover across the two markets topped 1.3
trillion yuan and more than 4,300 stocks advanced. The pharmaceutical sector led
gains as innovative drug and CRO names rallied; cinema chains, humanoid-robot
and travel stocks were also active. Precious metals-related stocks lagged.