1. **Shenzhen Further Relaxes Property Curbs, Boosting Market Sentiment** Shenzhen has introduced significant easing measures for its real estate market. Effective April 30, 2026, non-local residents holding a Shenzhen residence permit will be permitted to purchase one commercial residential property in specific districts, including Futian, Nanshan, and Bao'an's Xinan subdistrict. Additionally, the city has raised the ceiling for housing provident fund loans. Under certain conditions, the loan amount can be increased by up to 170%, allowing individual applicants to borrow a maximum of 1.89 million yuan and families up to 3.51 million yuan. Analysts suggest that these city-specific policy adjustments in major markets like Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are expected to help restore confidence and positively impact the property sector.

2. **Liu Haoling Appointed as Vice Chairman of China's Securities Regulatory Commission** Liu Haoling, aged 55, has been appointed as a Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). Prior to this role, Liu served as the Deputy Party Secretary, Vice Chairman, General Manager, and Chief Investment Officer of China Investment Corporation (CIC), and also held the position of Vice General Manager at Central Huijin Investment. The appointment was confirmed by the State Council, with a concurrent notice from the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee appointing him as a member of the CSRC's Party Committee.

3. **U.S. Reportedly Halts Semiconductor Equipment Shipments to Hua Hong, China Responds** Responding to media reports that the U.S. has suspended shipments of chipmaking equipment to Hua Hong Semiconductor, China's second-largest chip manufacturer, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, reiterated China's stance on the issue. Lin emphasized China's hope that the U.S. would take concrete actions to maintain the stability and smooth operation of the global industrial and supply chains.

4. **Fed's Powell in Final Meeting: Rates Expected Unchanged, Hawkish Tone Anticipated** The Federal Reserve's April FOMC meeting is widely expected to conclude with no change to interest rates. The focus, however, will be on the signals released during what is likely Chairman Jerome Powell's final policy meeting as chair. Key points of interest include whether the committee will formally signal that interest rate cuts are effectively off the table and any adjustments to the policy statement's wording regarding future risks. The market will closely watch for any shift in the Fed's guidance, particularly whether it maintains a bias towards potential easing or acknowledges a more balanced risk outlook.

5. **Tech Giants Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet Report Earnings Amid AI Scrutiny** Major technology firms Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet (Google's parent company) are scheduled to report earnings after the U.S. market closes, presenting a critical test for market sentiment. Investor attention is centered on whether investments in Artificial Intelligence are translating into tangible revenue growth and if escalating capital expenditures are pressuring profit margins. Option markets are pricing in significant volatility. Positive signals regarding AI monetization and growth could propel stock prices higher, while any indications of margin pressure, softening demand, or cautious guidance could trigger amplified sell-offs given current high valuations. The expected weekly volatility range for these stocks post-earnings is estimated between 5% and 7%.

6. **Big Four Chinese State-Owned Banks Report Q1 Earnings, Agricultural Bank Leads Profit Growth** The first-quarter financial results for China's four major state-owned banks have been released. Agricultural Bank of China reported a net profit of 75.19 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.52%, leading the group in profit growth. Bank of China's net profit rose 4.17% to 56.63 billion yuan, China Construction Bank's profit grew 3.68% to 86.821 billion yuan, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China saw a 3.31% increase in net profit to 86.941 billion yuan.

7. **Cambricon's Q1 Profit Surges 185% on Robust AI Computing Demand** Cambricon reported strong first-quarter 2026 results, with revenue reaching 2.885 billion yuan, a surge of 159.56% year-on-year. Net profit attributable to shareholders skyrocketed 185.04% to 1.013 billion yuan. The company attributed this significant performance improvement to continuously rising demand for AI computing power, successful market expansion driven by its competitive products, and the accelerated implementation of AI application scenarios.

8. **Iran Warns of Unprecedented Military Action if U.S. Continues Seizing Vessels** According to Iranian media reports citing a senior security official, Iran has issued a warning that it will take "unprecedented military action" if the United States continues to detain vessels associated with Iran. This statement came after U.S. President Trump warned Iran to "be smart," and following reports that Trump had instructed aides to prepare for a long-term containment strategy against Iran. An Iranian official stated that Iran would not relinquish its "sovereign rights in the Strait of Hormuz" and characterized any potential negotiations not as a retreat but as "another phase of the battle."

**Market Opportunities Highlighted:** Market analysis points to several investment themes, including the Huawei Ascend concept. 1. **Huawei Ascend AI Chips See Soaring Demand Post DeepSeek V4 Release:** Following the official launch of DeepSeek V4, demand for Huawei's Ascend 950 series AI chips has surged significantly. Major Chinese tech firms like ByteDance, Tencent, and Alibaba are reportedly scrambling to secure supply orders. The Ascend 950PR chip, a key technological breakthrough for Huawei, is said to outperform NVIDIA's China-specific H20 chip. A supply gap is expected to persist, with Huawei planning to produce approximately 750,000 Ascend 950PR chips in 2026. Mass production began in April, with full-scale shipments slated for the second half of the year. 2. **Foldable Screen Sector:** Institutions forecast a 51% year-on-year increase in global shipments of foldable smartphone panels for the current year. 3. **Gaming Industry:** A total of 147 domestically developed games received approval in April. 4. **Hydrogen Energy:** The hydrogen and fuel cell industry is accelerating development ahead of an upcoming major conference.

**Notable Corporate Announcements:** * **Positive:** * Cambricon: Q1 net profit reached 1.013 billion yuan, up 185.04% year-on-year. * Changfei Optical Fiber: Q1 net profit increased 226% year-on-year, with growth in both revenue and gross margin. * GigaDevice: Q1 net profit surged 523% year-on-year, benefiting from supply shortages and rising prices for its memory chip products. * China Securities (CSC): Q1 net profit was 3.667 billion yuan, an increase of 99.03%. * Ganfeng Lithium: Q1 net profit reached 1.837 billion yuan, soaring 616.34% year-on-year. * **Negative:** * China Vanke (Vanke A): Reported a Q1 net loss of 5.952 billion yuan. * MetaX Studio (Merxshare): Q1 net loss was 98.8424 million yuan, compared to a loss of 233 million yuan in the same period last year. * *ST Huarong: Received a preliminary notice regarding potential termination of its stock listing. * Jihua Group: Its stock was placed under "Other Risk警示" (ST) and its abbreviation changed to ST Jihua. * Paislynn: U.S. subsidiary Wanfeng failed to meet its 2025 performance commitment, requiring compensation of 790 million yuan.