New York, Jan 12, 2026, 13:22 EST — Regular session
- VNET shares climbed roughly 9.6%, hitting approximately $11.43 during afternoon trading on the Nasdaq.
- The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index jumped roughly 4.2%, boosting most U.S.-listed Chinese stocks.
- Traders await Tuesday’s U.S. CPI inflation data, which has the potential to shift rate expectations.
Shares of VNET Group, Inc (VNET) climbed roughly 9.6% to $11.43 by early afternoon on Monday, building on a strong recovery in U.S.-listed Chinese stocks. The price hit a peak of $11.48 after starting the day at $10.79.
This matters because VNET has turned into a high-beta play on shifts in China-focused tech sentiment in the U.S.—and those swings have returned. It also offers a quick gauge on whether investors are willing to pay a premium for anything tied to AI-driven computing demand, including data centers.
Rates figure into the scene. Following recent labor-market figures, major banks have started dialing back their expectations for U.S. rate cuts. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell labeled the administration’s legal threats as a “pretext” aimed at swaying interest-rate policy, Reuters reported. 1
Tuesday’s opening bell will be preceded by the release of the U.S. consumer price index, a crucial inflation measure, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. 2
Shares of China-listed companies on U.S. exchanges climbed broadly, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index rising 4.2% for the day, according to Nasdaq data. 3
Shares of GDS Holdings, a data center rival to VNET, climbed roughly 9% in afternoon trading.
Chinese AI and chip stocks are back in the spotlight following a wave of new listings and rumors of regulatory efforts to tame a price war, Investing.com reports. That sentiment is now echoing in U.S.-listed companies lumped together under the “AI infrastructure” label. 4
VNET, a China-based provider of internet data center services along with hosting and cloud solutions, detailed this in its latest annual filing. Its shares listed in the U.S. are American depositary shares, a setup enabling foreign companies to trade on American exchanges.
The downside scenario is straightforward. If inflation stays high and yields climb, markets typically penalize future growth forecasts more sharply — with volatile China ADRs often taking the lead in the sell-off. Any new U.S.-China tensions could also send the tape tumbling fast.
Investors are also keeping an eye on early earnings from major U.S. banks on Tuesday, seeking hints about credit conditions and risk appetite. JPMorgan will release its report before the market opens and hold its earnings call at 8:30 a.m. ET. 5
VNET’s next major event is its quarterly earnings report, slated for March 11, according to Zacks. 6
