EB Securities, a Hong Kong-listed securities brokerage firm, saw its stock plummet by 5.07% in intraday trading on Friday.
The sharp decline in EB Securities' share price could be attributed to news that its parent company, Everbright Securities, is closing multiple branches across China. According to reports, Everbright Securities has closed 10 branches since May, joining other major Chinese brokerages that are shuttering branches to consolidate resources and remain competitive.
The wave of branch closures by Chinese brokerages reflects the challenging conditions in the industry, which may have prompted cost-cutting measures. This could negatively impact the performance of EB Securities, as a subsidiary of Everbright Securities, and potentially explain the stock's plunge on Friday.