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Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose above the 25,000 level, extending its winning streak to five consecutive sessions with a 1.55% gain. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index advanced 1.8%, while the Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 2.27%. Major technology stocks, including Tencent, Alibaba, Meituan, Xiaomi, JD.com, and Kuaishou, led the rally, with financial shares also contributing to broader market gains. Investors will continue monitoring economic data and corporate earnings for further direction.

Stripe and Advent International have reportedly offered $60.50 per share to acquire PayPal, valuing the payments company at more than $53 billion. The proposed deal, backed by about $50 billion in committed bank financing, would see Stripe and Advent each hold a 50% ownership stake if completed. PayPal shares surged about 15% following the report. The parties are seeking to advance discussions, though there is no certainty a transaction will be completed.

Asian markets traded mixed, led by a nearly 6% rally in South Korea’s KOSPI, while Japan’s Nikkei, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Australia’s ASX 200 also advanced. China’s Shanghai Composite was little changed after the country’s GDP growth missed expectations. Brent crude extended gains for a third straight session amid renewed U.S.-Iran tensions, while gold edged higher and the U.S. dollar weakened following softer-than-expected U.S. inflation. Investors will continue monitoring economic data and geopolitical developments for further market direction.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.11% and the Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.2% in morning trading as investors shifted toward internet companies while semiconductor stocks remained under pressure. The move reflected continued concerns over the global chip sector, while companies with strong cash flows and AI-driven services showed greater resilience. Markets are now watching whether technology shares can extend the rebound, with investor focus remaining on AI applications and broader global market conditions.

South Korea’s KOSPI extended its sell-off on July 14, falling 4% intraday to 6,534.34, while SK Hynix dropped more than 7%. At the same time, Upbit’s 24-hour trading volume jumped 1,426% to $4.27 billion, according to CoinGecko. The sharp increase in crypto trading came as the stock market weakened and forced liquidations in South Korean equities reached about KRW 425.8 billion ($286 million) between July 1 and July 10. Investors will watch whether volatility continues across both stock and crypto markets.

South Korea’s KOSPI has fallen 27% over the past 25 days after reaching a peak gain of 122% earlier this year. The latest drop of more than 8% triggered a market-wide circuit breaker and a 20-minute trading halt. The sell-off was led by Samsung and SK Hynix, which together account for a large share of the index and are closely tied to AI memory chip demand. Investors are questioning whether strong earnings growth can be sustained, leaving the market highly volatile despite historically low valuations.

Asian stock markets declined, led by South Korea, where the KOSPI dropped 5.14%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.12% and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 0.76%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.55%. The sell-off was driven by weakness in semiconductor and AI stocks, renewed Middle East tensions, higher oil prices, and investor caution ahead of this week’s U.S. inflation report. Markets will closely watch U.S. CPI data for signals on the interest rate outlook.

Brent crude oil rose more than 4% to $78.68 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed to $73.89, after U.S. strikes on Iran and renewed threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The gains reflect concerns that escalating tensions could disrupt global oil supplies through one of the world’s busiest energy trade routes. Markets will closely monitor developments in the region and any impact on oil exports and shipping.