** The blue-chip CSI300 Index fell 0.3% by the
lunch break, while the Shanghai Composite Index dipped
0.2%.
** Risk appetite was curbed by a flare-up in geopolitical
tensions, after China's military simulated precision strikes
against Taiwan in a second day of drills around the island on
Sunday.
** China began three days of military exercises after Taiwan
President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a brief visit to the United
States.
** Bucking the broad market tepidness, 10 Chinese stocks
jumped on their debut which marks the full roll-out of China's
registration-based IPO mechanism.
** Shenzhen CECport Technologies Co , an
electronic components distributor based in the southern
technology hub Shenzhen, opened up 161%, and surged as much as
239%, following its 2.25 billion yuan ($327.18 million) IPO.
** Dencare Chongqing Oral Care Co , an oral
products maker, opened up 98% and soared as much as 214%. Other
companies, including Shaanxi Energy Investment Co ,
Both Engineering Technology Co , also rose between
50% and 120%.
** Investors cheered the introduction of the new IPO system
to the main board. The system had previously been adopted by
Shanghai's tech-focused STAR Market, Shenzhen's start-up board
ChiNext and the Beijing Stock Exchange for small companies.
** Elsewhere, the STAR 50 Index fell from
eight-month highs, on track to break a seven-day rising streak.
** Artificial Intelligence stocks slumped more
than 3% from 14-month highs as the ChatGPT mania shows signs of
cooling.
** An index tracking defense stocks rose 0.3%.
(Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
