By Summer Zhen

HONG KONG, March 12 (Reuters) - China and Hong Kong stocks traded lower on Wednesday, pressured by consumer and tech shares, as investors locked in profits from recent rallies while evaluating the impact of U.S. tariffs.

** At the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index .SSEC was down 0.14% at 3,375.17 points.

** China's blue-chip CSI300 index .CSI300 was down 0.3%, with its financial sector sub-index .CSI300FS trading 0.1% lower, the consumer staples sector .CSI000912 down 1.12%, the real estate index .CSI000952 down 0.67% and the healthcare sub-index .CSI300HC down 0.69%.

** In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index .HSI was down 0.67% at 23,623.55, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index .HSCE fell 0.63%.

** Hong Kong-listed tech giants .HSTECH underperformed, dropping 1% by lunchtime, despite a 30% year-to-date surge in the sub-index.

** "Technically speaking, the long-term bull run in the tech sector has not ended. But in the short term, trading is quite crowded, making it prone to sharp rises and falls," Pacific Securities analysts said in a note. "Investors should consider taking some profits."

** Some sell-side analyst also noted the concerns over China's deflationary pressure and tariff uncertainties may weigh on the sentiment in the near term.

** U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew a plan to double tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada to 50%, just hours after announcing the higher tariffs, in rapid-fire moves that scrambled financial markets overnight.

** Swiss bank Julius Baer on Wednesday raised its 12-month target for the Hang Seng Index to 26,500, citing its bullish view on consumer stocks given its under China's stimulus focus.

** On information technology, the bank expects some consolidation in the second quarter, but will pave the way for another potential rally later in the year.

** The smaller Shenzhen index .SZSC was up 0.37%, the start-up board ChiNext Composite index .CNT dropped 0.24% and Shanghai's tech-focused STAR50 index .STAR50 was up 0.12%​.

** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index .MIAPJ0000PUS was weaker by 0.11%, while Japan's Nikkei index .N225 was up 0.08%.sec

(Reporting by Summer Zhen; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

((summer.zhen@thomsonreuters.com; 852-3462-7739; summer.zhen@thomsonreuters.com; 852-3462-7739;))