Weibo Corporation (WB) saw its stock price plummet by 5.08% in Friday's trading session, as U.S.-listed shares of Chinese companies faced a sharp selloff. The decline comes in response to President Donald Trump's threat of a "massive" increase in U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, reigniting trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
The social media giant was not alone in its downward trajectory. Other major Chinese firms listed in the U.S. also experienced significant drops. E-commerce behemoths Alibaba, JD.com, and PDD Holdings fell between 5.9% and 6.9%. Tech companies were similarly affected, with search engine leader Baidu shedding 7% and gaming stock Bilibili sliding 7.8%. The negative sentiment extended to various sectors, including electric vehicle manufacturers, online education firms, and financial technology companies.
This broad-based decline underscores the vulnerability of Chinese stocks to U.S.-China trade relations. Investors are clearly concerned about the potential economic impact of increased tariffs on Chinese goods, which could hurt corporate profits and slow economic growth. As uncertainties loom, market participants will be closely watching for any developments in trade negotiations between the two nations and their potential effects on companies like Weibo and its peers in the coming days.