Tencent slides 6.75% as funds cut RMB 18.5 billion in holdings

Chinese mutual funds dumped nearly RMB 18.5 billion of Tencent stock in the second quarter, the largest position reduction among actively managed equity funds.

Tencent Holdings (0700.HK) fell 6.75% to HKD 442.2 on July 22, with HK$27.1 billion in turnover, after data showed actively managed Chinese mutual funds cut their positions by nearly RMB 18.5 billion in the second quarter.

The data, compiled from 2Q26 fund filings, showed Tencent was the single largest position reduction among actively managed equity funds during the period. The selling was concentrated in funds that had held the stock since 2024, according to the filings.

The reduction contrasted sharply with Zhongji Innolight (300308.SZ), an optical module maker that began its Hong Kong public offering on July 22. Mutual funds raised holdings in the A-share listed company by more than RMB 89 billion during the quarter, making it the most added position. Zhongji Innolight A-shares also fell 6.67% on the day.

The divergence signals a rotation within Chinese equity markets away from mature internet platforms toward AI hardware and optical infrastructure plays. Zhongji Innolight, a key supplier of optical transceivers used in AI data centers, has benefited from surging demand tied to the global GPU infrastructure buildout. Its Hong Kong listing, launched on the same day as the fund data release, aims to tap international investor demand for AI supply chain exposure.

The shift mirrors a broader Asia-wide trend where institutional capital has flowed into semiconductor and AI supply chain names. The iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF, which allocates 22.3% to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., has returned 82.8% over the past year, while the iShares China Large-Cap ETF, dominated by banks and consumer-internet names including Tencent, is down 6.63% over the same period.

For Tencent, the fund exodus adds to a challenging year. The stock's 6.75% drop on July 22 came with HK$27.1 billion in turnover and a short-selling ratio of 17.06%, reflecting elevated bearish positioning. The company remains one of China's largest internet platforms by revenue, but fund managers have increasingly favored AI infrastructure names that offer direct exposure to the data center buildout cycle.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.