K. Wah International Holdings Ltd. (00173) witnessed a surge of 5.41% in its stock price on Monday morning, defying initial concerns surrounding the passing of its long-serving Chairman and Managing Director, Lui Che Woo, on November 7th at the age of 95.

While the news of Lui's death initially raised fears of potential disruptions to the company's leadership and future direction, investors quickly shrugged off these worries, driving the stock higher in the early trading session. Analysts speculate that this positive market reaction could be attributed to several factors:

First, confidence in K. Wah's succession planning and expectations of a smooth transition to new management appear to have allayed concerns about the leadership vacuum. Secondly, some investors may be anticipating potential strategic shifts or an increased likelihood of a takeover bid, given the changing leadership landscape.