Market Overview - Hong Kong stocks opened lower but closed higher, with the Hang Seng Index rising by 0.14% to 26,885.24 points and a total turnover of HKD 315.12 billion [1] - Morgan Stanley noted that despite recent market volatility, effective measures to cool A-shares, a stronger USD against RMB, and long-term regulatory support for Hong Kong are expected to provide positive liquidity support for both A-shares and Hong Kong stocks [1] Blue-Chip Performance - Baidu Group-SW (09888) saw a 2.7% increase, closing at HKD 140.9 with a turnover of HKD 3.238 billion, contributing 7.38 points to the Hang Seng Index [2] - Baidu announced a new stock buyback plan with a maximum amount of USD 5 billion, effective until December 31, 2028, and approved a dividend policy expected to be announced in 2026 [2] - Other blue-chip stocks included Haidilao (06862) up 4.03%, Lenovo Group (00992) up 3.67%, while Zijin Mining (02899) fell 4.76% and New Oriental-S (09901) dropped 3.13% [2] Sector Performance Consumer Sector - Large consumer stocks performed well, with Yum China rising over 11% post-earnings, and other consumer stocks like Mao Ge Ping (01318) up 5.29% and Haidilao (06862) up 4.03% [3] - Citigroup highlighted that the 2026 consumer recovery will rely on sustainable profit growth rather than short-term policy stimulus, naming several companies as industry favorites [3] Precious Metals - The precious metals sector saw a significant decline, with gold and silver prices dropping sharply, and major companies like China Aluminum (02600) and Jiangxi Copper (00358) also experiencing losses [4] - Guojin Securities indicated that the gold and silver markets are becoming increasingly volatile, influenced by various macroeconomic factors [4] Space Photovoltaics - The space photovoltaic concept saw a decline, with companies like Junda Co. (02865) dropping 12.35% as the technology is still in the early exploration phase [5] - The China Photovoltaic Industry Association stated that the technology is not yet ready for large-scale commercialization [5] Semiconductor Sector - Semiconductor stocks faced pressure, with companies like Zhaoyi Innovation (03986) down 4.47% following a significant drop in AMD shares, which fell 17.31% after disappointing guidance despite strong revenue growth [6] - The decline in AMD affected other major storage companies, leading to collective losses in the sector [6] Notable Company Updates - Yum China reported total revenue of USD 11.797 billion for 2025, a 4% increase, with a net profit of USD 929 million, reflecting a 2% growth [7] - MGM China (02282) reported a net revenue of approximately USD 4.462 billion for the year ending December 31, 2025, a 10.92% increase [8] - Tianqi Lithium (09696) saw a significant drop of 13.33% after announcing a placement of new H-shares and convertible bonds, raising a total of HKD 58.61 billion [9] - New City Development (01030) fell 13.17% after announcing a share placement at a discount to raise funds for future development and debt repayment [10]

Core Points - Equinor will commence the fourth tranche of its share buy-back programme for 2025 on 30 October 2025, with a total value of up to USD 1,266 million, including USD 417.8 million for market purchases [1][2] - The share buy-back programme aims to reduce the issued share capital of the company, with all shares purchased in the fourth tranche to be cancelled at the annual general meeting in May 2026 [4][8] - The maximum number of shares that can be purchased in the fourth tranche is 84 million, with 50,677,690 shares remaining available for purchase at the start of this tranche [5] Share Buy-Back Programme Details - The share buy-back programme for 2025 was announced in February 2025, with a total value of up to USD 5 billion, structured into tranches based on market conditions and balance sheet strength [2] - A non-discretionary agreement will be established with a third party to execute share repurchases independently of Equinor [2] - Future tranches after the fourth will be decided quarterly by the board, in line with the company's dividend policy [3] State Participation and Share Cancellation - An agreement with the Norwegian State ensures that the State will vote for the cancellation of shares purchased in the market at the annual general meeting in May 2026, maintaining its ownership share at 67% [6] - The price for the State's shares will be based on the volume-weighted average price paid by Equinor for market purchases, plus interest compensation [6] Trading and Compliance - Shares will be purchased on the Oslo Stock Exchange and potentially other venues within the EEA, adhering to applicable safe harbour conditions and regulations [7] - The company is obligated to disclose this information under the EU Market Abuse Regulation and Norwegian Securities Trading Act [8]