Top Shorted Stocks in Hong Kong: S&P Global Market Intelligence identified the ten most shorted stocks in Hong Kong, with metrics including the number of shares borrowed and short selling ratios.

Notable Stocks: Key stocks include Ping An with a short selling ratio of 39.57%, COSCO Ship Hold at 23.71%, and Hengrui Pharma at 18.79%, reflecting significant investor skepticism.

Market Trends: The report indicates a mixed performance in stock prices over the past week, with some stocks experiencing gains while others faced declines.

Market Insights: Analysts, including those from M Stanley, suggest that the recent uptrend in the Chinese property sector may not be sustainable, predicting potential declines in home sales and prices.

Top Shorted Stocks: S&P Global Market Intelligence identified the ten most shorted stocks in Hong Kong, with metrics based on the short selling ratio, which measures shares lent out relative to total issued shares.

Leading Stocks: COSCO SHIP HOLD topped the list with a short selling ratio of 40.396%, followed by DONGFANG ELEC and PHARMARON with ratios of 19.528% and 34.783%, respectively.

Stock Performance: The report includes recent price changes and short selling amounts, indicating varying performance among the listed stocks over the past week.

Market Insights: The data reflects investor sentiment and market dynamics, with significant short selling activity observed in companies like PING AN and ZTE, highlighting potential concerns or speculation in the market.

Industry Outlook: The container shipping industry is expected to face challenges, with BofA Securities predicting an EBIT loss in 2026 due to oversupply and the reopening of the Red Sea route.

Vessel Supply Impact: Significant growth in vessel supply in the first half of 2026 will contribute to the industry's struggles, compounded by the reopening of the Red Sea route in the second half of the year.

Investment Recommendations: BofA Securities has maintained an Underperform rating on COSCO SHIP HOLD and OOIL, advising investors to be cautious of negative developments related to the Red Sea route.

Market Conditions: The report highlights the potential for declining spot freight rates as port congestion eases and seasonal factors weaken, which could further impact the shipping market.

Market Sentiment: The investment sentiment towards the container shipping industry remains bearish until the end of 2025, influenced by concentrated demand in the first half of 2025 and the reopening of the Suez Canal.

Positive Outlook: Citi's research report indicates a positive risk-reward profile for Asia-Pacific shipping companies, highlighting their attractive valuation with forecasted 2026 P/B ratios between 0.6 and 0.8 times.

Industry Support: The overall net cash level in the shipping industry is providing support, which contributes to the positive outlook despite current market conditions.

COSCO SHIP HOLD Upgrade: Citi upgraded COSCO SHIP HOLD's rating from Sell to Buy and increased its target price from HKD12.1 to HKD15.9, reflecting confidence in the company's potential amidst the market challenges.

Resumption of Shipping Routes: Maersk will resume its shipping route from India and the Middle East to the US East Coast via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, following similar moves by CMA CGM and the Ocean Alliance.

Impact on Freight Rates: The resumption of these routes is expected to increase shipping capacity by 7-8%, leading to a forecasted decline in freight rates by 9-16% this year, contingent on ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea.

Financial Risks for Shipping Companies: A potential 10% drop in freight rates could significantly impact Maersk's EBIT margin, resulting in losses for both Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

Investment Ratings: HSBC Global Investment Research has assigned a Buy rating to Maersk due to its logistics and terminal operations, while maintaining Underweight ratings for COSCO SHIP HOLD and OOIL, and a Hold rating for SITC.