CCL and PCB makers rallied, with KB Laminates (建滔積層板, 1888.HK) jumping 9.1 percent to HK$43.38, a one-month high, as the Hang Seng Index slipped.
The advance tracks Kingboard Holdings (建滔集團, 148.HK) chairman Cheung Kwok Wah's confidence that both companies will earn HK$10 billion each this year, he said at an Aug. 24 results briefing, as AI-driven demand lifts the copper-clad laminate supply chain. Kingboard Holdings rose 6.49 percent to HK$52.8, with 19.9 million shares changing hands for HK$1.05 billion.
The sector's strength was broad-based across both exchanges. On the mainland, SYTECH (600183.SH) climbed 8.3 percent, while NANYA NEW MATERIAL (688519.SH) and CJS (600176.SH) added 4.5 percent to 5.9 percent. PCB names were more aggressive: GOLDENMAX INT'L (002636.SZ), XIEHE ELECTRONIC (605258.SH) and JLC (001232.SZ) all hit the 10 percent daily limit, and NOVORAY (688300.SH) surged 19.9 percent. KINGSHINE (300903.SZ), LINGWE TECHNOLOGY (301373.SZ) and ZYST (300936.SZ) rose 12.6 percent to 13.9 percent.
Hong Kong-listed peers advanced against the broader market. NVIDIA supplier VGT (02476.HK) gained 5.83 percent to HK$250.4 on HK$608 million of turnover, CFMEE (09630.HK) added 4.63 percent to HK$375.2, and HANS CNC (03200.HK) climbed 8.06 percent to HK$108.6. DELTON (01989.HK) rose 2.99 percent to HK$131. KB Laminates traded 52 million shares worth HK$2.22 billion, with short selling at 13.2 percent of turnover.
The rally shows investor conviction in the AI hardware supply chain, where demand for laminates and circuit boards is tied to NVIDIA-related computing buildouts. The divergence from the Hang Seng Index, which last stood at 25,535, down 117 points or more than 0.4 percent on HK$108.76 billion of turnover, points to sector-specific momentum rather than broad market strength. Traders will watch whether the AI-driven bid extends to substrate and laminate makers in coming sessions, and whether the strength in CCL names can hold against a softer index backdrop.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.