Shares of Lufax Holding Ltd (LU) tumbled 5.23% in pre-market trading on Friday, following the company's announcement of a delay in publishing its 2024 annual results. This unexpected setback has sparked concern among investors, leading to a significant sell-off in the early hours of trading.

The Chinese fintech company, which operates a technology-empowered personal financial services platform, did not provide specific reasons for the delay or a new expected date for the release of its financial report. Such delays often raise red flags for investors, as they can indicate potential accounting issues, regulatory concerns, or other undisclosed problems within the company.

The timing of this announcement is particularly sensitive, as many investors rely on annual reports to make informed decisions about their portfolios. The lack of timely financial information may lead to increased uncertainty about Lufax's performance and future prospects, potentially causing further volatility in the stock price in the coming days. Investors and analysts will be closely watching for any additional information from the company regarding the reasons for the delay and a new timeline for the release of the annual results.