STAR 50 Index Climbs to 2,305
China's STAR Market (Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Board, analogous to Nasdaq) reached an index level of 2,305 points in July 2026, up from around 1,820 at the start of the year — a gain of approximately 26.6% year-to-date. The rally reflects robust investor appetite for China's AI, semiconductor, and new-energy technology companies, as well as a significant uptick in STAR board IPOs during H1.
H1 2026: Record Listings on the STAR Board
According to Wind data cited by Chinese financial media, the STAR Market attracted 47 new listings in H1 2026, raising a combined 85.6 billion yuan — the highest half-year figure since the board's 2019 inception. Average IPO valuation reached 28.3x earnings, above the 22.4x average for the ChiNext board.
AI Sector Dominates Performance
- AI chip and computing infrastructure companies: average gain of 38% in H1
- Robotics and industrial automation: average gain of 29%
- New energy storage and grid technology: average gain of 22%
Investor Composition Shifts
The STAR Market has seen a notable increase in institutional ownership, now accounting for 48% of total market cap, up from 31% in 2023. This reflects both regulatory encouragement of long-term investors and growing comfort among domestic pension and insurance funds with technology sector risk.