China stocks diverged on Tuesday, with the blue-chip index hitting a fresh 18-month high as investors chased companies with solid fundamentals, while small-caps extended a fall on expectations more equity issuance would soften valuations.
The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.5 per cent to 3,670.81 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3 per cent to 3,203.04 points.
An index tracking 50 blue-chips in Shanghai, dubbed China's “Nifty 50” index, rose 0.8 per cent to a 20-month high as investors continued to chase blue-chips with solid fundamentals. This follows MSCI's decision to include China's 222 big-caps in its key index.
At the smaller end of town, however, the tech-heavy start-up board index
China's central bank resumed open market operations to inject 40 billion yuan ($5.88 billion) into money market on Tuesday, after abstaining from open market operations during the previous 12 sessions.
The tight liquidity conditions will last for a relatively long time, as the central bank's current moves to maintain stability in the market were only meant to prevent financial risks amid Beijing's concerted campaign to deleverage, Bohai securities analyst Song Yiwei wrote in a report.
Banking and consumer stocks led the advance, while material firms took a breather after recent strong gains amid an industry recovery and a weaker dollar.
Investors are likely to be wary of stocks trading at high levels with a rotation into big-caps extending into other sectors, including cyclical shares, which could mean rising risks amid tight liquidity in the market, Song wrote.