LAOPU GOLD Declines 3.5% Following Announcement of $2.7B Fundraising via 4.5% Discounted Share Placement
Stock Performance: LAOPU GOLD (06181.HK) experienced a 7.888% drop, opening 3.52% lower at HKD740, with short selling amounting to $50.89 million and a ratio of 3.938%.
Share Placement Announcement: The company announced a 4.5% discounted placement of 3.7118 million new H shares at HKD732.49 each, aiming to raise approximately HKD2.707 billion.
Use of Proceeds: The funds from the share placement will be allocated as follows: 70% for inventory reserves, 10% for boutique expansion and optimization, and 20% for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Market Context: UBS noted that the gold trade is not "extremely crowded," suggesting ongoing demand for gold asset allocation due to factors like de-dollarization and debasement.
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Price Increase: LAOPU GOLD raised prices by an average of 27% on February 28, marking the largest increase in history, driven by higher gold prices and a goal to maintain a gross profit margin above 40%.
Market Impact: The price hike may reduce demand from price-sensitive customers, but peers are expected to follow suit in March, potentially stabilizing the market.
Promotional Activities: Upcoming events like the Tmall Goddess Festival and SKP malls' anniversary sale are anticipated to help alleviate sales pressure and support demand recovery.
Analyst Rating: Citi Research rated LAOPU GOLD as a Buy with a target price of $1,119, citing strong earnings prospects from same-store sales growth and new store openings.

Price Increase: LAOPU GOLD raised prices by 20-30%, primarily between 25% and 30%, which was slightly above market expectations, particularly for pure gold products.
Gross Profit Margin (GPM) Goals: The company aims for a 40% GPM by 2026, as the recent price hike helps protect its margins after previously lagging behind gold price increases.
Demand Outlook: Despite concerns about the sustainability of growth post-price increase and the end of promotional periods, strong performance during the January to February peak season is expected to support a solid growth outlook for the first half of 2026.
Broker Rating: Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating on LAOPU GOLD with a target price of HKD1,128, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance.

Hong Kong Stock Performance: On February 16, Hong Kong stocks saw a positive half-day session, with the HSI closing up 138 points (0.5%) at 26,705, marking a strong overall performance in the Year of the Snake with a 32% gain.
HSI Quarterly Review Changes: The quarterly review of the HSI included the addition of CATL, CMOC, and LAOPU GOLD, which saw significant gains, while ZHONGSHENG HLDG was removed from the index.
Individual Stock Movements: Notable stock movements included SANDS CHINA LTD rising 2.7% despite a slight decline in property EBITDA, while ANTA SPORTS experienced a minor drop after shareholder approval for a significant acquisition.
US Department of War Update: The US Department of War's withdrawal of the "List of Chinese Military Companies" impacted stock prices, with BABA-W declining 0.5% and BIDU-SW increasing by 1.3%.

Hang Seng Index Review: The Hang Seng Indexes Company announced the inclusion of CATL, CMOC, and LAOPU GOLD in the HSI following the 4Q25 review, with respective price increases of 2.899%, 6.814%, and 5.078%.
Short Selling Data: CATL, CMOC, and LAOPU GOLD experienced significant short selling, with ratios of 23.375%, 22.040%, and 28.099%, respectively, indicating investor caution.
Market Reactions: CMOC and LAOPU GOLD saw notable price surges of 5.25% and 5.55%, while ZHONGSHENG HLDG faced a decline of 2.707% amid short selling pressures.
Implementation Timeline: The changes to the index will be effective after the market close on March 6, 2026, and will take effect on March 9, 2026.

US Inflation and Stock Market Update: US inflation was below expectations while core inflation met them; the DJIA rose by 0.1% last Friday.
Hong Kong Stock Market Performance: The Hong Kong bourse opened lower, with the HSI down 0.2% and other indices also showing declines.
HSI Quarterly Review Changes: CATL, CMOC, and LAOPU GOLD were added to the HSI, while ZHONGSHENG HLDG was removed; CATL and CMOC saw slight increases in their stock prices.
Notable Stock Movements: Stocks like BABA-W and BIDU-SW dropped significantly after being listed as Chinese military companies, while ANTA SPORTS received approval for a stake acquisition in PUMA.
Index Review Announcement: Hang Seng Indexes Company announced the results of its quarterly review for the Hang Seng Family of Indexes, effective from 9 March 2026.
New Additions to HSI: CATL, CMOC, and LAOPU GOLD will be added to the Hang Seng Index, increasing the total number of constituents from 88 to 90.
Deletion from HSI: ZHONGSHENG HLDG will be removed from the Hang Seng Index as part of the quarterly review.
Short Selling Data: The article includes short selling data for the mentioned companies, highlighting significant short selling ratios and amounts prior to the index changes.




