Hua Xia Shi Bao·2026-02-03 10:40Core Viewpoint - Recent rumors regarding potential increases in value-added tax (VAT) rates for the gaming and financial industries have caused significant fluctuations in gaming stocks, but these rumors have been debunked by industry experts and authorities [3][4]. Group 1: Stock Market Reactions - On February 3, gaming stocks experienced a sharp decline, with Tencent (00700.HK) dropping over 6% and NetEase (09999.HK) falling more than 3% during intraday trading [1]. - A recovery was observed by the end of the trading day, with A-share gaming stocks rebounding, including Century Huatong and Gigabit Technology, both rising over 2% [1]. - The gaming index (BK1406) increased by more than 3.4%, with several component stocks, such as Shunwang Technology, surging by 13.8% [1]. Group 2: Tax Rumors and Clarifications - Recent rumors suggested that the VAT rate for the gaming industry could rise from 6% to 32%, which sparked concern among investors [3]. - Experts confirmed that these rumors lack credibility, stating that the maximum VAT rate in China is capped at 13%, and no adjustments to the tax policies for the gaming and financial sectors have been made [4]. - The implementation of the new VAT law and related announcements by the tax authorities have clarified that the tax rates for these industries are stable and well-defined [4].