'National team' appears to buoy indexes amid weak consumption and thin profits
An electronic board in Shanghai's Lujiazui financial district shows Shanghai and Shenzhen stock prices. Intense competition in China's industrial sectors and weak domestic demand are sapping the value of Chinese stocks. © Reuters
LORRETTA CHEN and WATARU SUZUKI
October 23, 2026 16:09 JST
HONG KONG/SHANGHAI -- China's stock market struggled to break out of a funk on Friday after sliding into bear territory as investors increasingly question whether the country's much-hyped AI sector can justify lofty valuations and offset broader economic troubles.