China, Hong Kong stocks edge lower as tech shares extend sli p

China and Hong Kong stocks inched lower on Tuesday, giving up opening gains as tech shares resumed their decline, while faster industrial profits growth failed to lift sediment.



By the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.1% at 3,692.58 points. The blue-chip CSI300 index was also down 0.1%.



The tech sector led declines, with the start-up board ChiNext Composite index weaker by 0.5% and Shanghai's tech-focused STAR50 index down 1.5%. **

The selloff in Chinese AI-related shares continued, with the CSI Semiconductor Index down 2.2% at a fresh six-month low and the CSI AI Index down 0.8%.

In a sign of risk sentiment remaining fragile, the defensive CSI Banks Index added 0.8%.



In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index was down 0.1%, and the Hang Seng Tech Index declined 0.8%.