Tencent is no longer a sure bet as selling by Chinese traders approach US$1 billion

Traders in China are unwinding positions in Tencent Holdings faster than ever, turning to other targets amid a lack of reasons to push Asia’s biggest stock any higher.

Mainland investors sold a net US$81 million worth of shares in the Chinese internet giant through trading links with Hong Kong on Tuesday, according to exchange data. That’s the 12th day of net selling in 13 days, bringing the total sold to more than US$740 million since May 10, or about 7.1 per cent of their total holdings in the stock.

Tencent’s record quarterly profit and better-than-expected margins offered only a short-lived boost for its shares, which lost almost $100 billion in value ahead of the results in mid-May. The stock is likely to hover around HK$400 (US$51) on expectations that gaming revenue will be weak this quarter as the company doesn’t plan to release any new titles, according to UOB Kay Hian analyst Julia Pan.

“Mainland investors are shifting their funds away from Tencent to some hot stocks in the market,” said Shanghai-based Pan. “I wouldn’t suggest people buy the stock at the moment, given the gaming pipeline uncertainties. There’s a lack of catalysts.”

Tencent has struggled to find buyers outside mainland China too. The stock has lost about two-thirds of a post-earnings rebound that briefly sent it above the HK$405 price at which a major shareholder sold a stake two months ago.

Turnover was about half this year’s daily average in the past four days - including the quietest trading day since December on Tuesday -- signalling interest in Asia’s tech darling is drying up.

The stock fell 0.8 per cent to HK$402 in Hong Kong on Tuesday, its lowest close since May 16. Tencent hasn’t moved more than 1 per cent in either direction for seven consecutive days, matching a similar dull streak in October.