Hong Kong property rally set to cool as stock headwinds mount
Despite a string of megadeals, Hong Kong's residential property rally is expected to lose steam in the second half of 2026 as weak stock market conditions weigh on investor sentiment. Meanwhile, analysts highlight a sector that has underperformed the broader market rally this year, with 12 stocks favored to surge. One stock has already rallied 76% year-to-date, with brokerage projecting an additional 83% upside.
Japan's Fujikura is pivoting toward fiber-optic demand to recover from a failed expansion. The Japanese anime industry faces rising production costs even as global viewership surges. Meanwhile, spent fuel storage emerges as a critical weak point in Japan's push to revive its nuclear power sector.
AI stocks are tumbling worldwide, dragging broader markets lower as concerns grow over excessive concentration in the sector. Reports highlight that the AI-driven economy is leaving many Americans behind, widening inequality. The U.S. dominates the Global 2000 as AI reshapes the corporate landscape, but overseas markets face even greater AI overexposure risk.
China is pushing to replicate its EV dominance in the robotaxi sector, with industry watchers questioning whether the strategy will succeed. A senior Chinese official announced that humanoid robot output will exceed 100,000 units this year. In Japan, construction firm Shimizu is turning to humanoid robots to address severe labor shortages in the industry.