VNET Group (VNET.US) experienced a significant rally on Thursday, climbing more than 16% to close at $9.22 per share. The surge came after the company announced it had secured a substantial 40MW wholesale order from a major internet company for its strategically positioned Gu'an IDC campus. The capacity will be delivered in phases to support the client's core operations.

Adding to the positive sentiment, HSBC Research highlighted in their analysis that VNET Group is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for AI training and inference capabilities. The research firm identified the company as a preferred choice among data center operators, citing its abundant capacity and competitive electricity costs in Inner Mongolia as key advantages.