Chinese tech stocks are experiencing a major surge, inspiring catchy nicknames as they rival the United States 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants. Driven by excitement around AI startup DeepSeek and perceived state backing following President Xi Jinping's meeting with business leaders like Alibaba founder Jack Ma, the Hong Kong market has climbed significantly.

The Hang Seng index now ranks among the best-performing major markets this year, with leading firms stepping into the spotlight.

Brokerages have dubbed rising Chinese companies the 'Seven Sisters,' likely emerging from sectors like AI, chip-making, and high-end manufacturing. Companies such as Tencent, Alibaba, Xiaomi, and BYD are top contenders.

Another group, the 'Terrific Ten,' has also gained attention, with firms like JD.com, Geely, Baidu, and SMIC included, boosting the Hang Seng Tech index by nearly 70% over the past year-outpacing Nasdaq's 27% gain.

The rivalry pits China's rising stars against the US 'Magnificent Seven,' a term coined by Bank of America, representing giants like Apple, Meta, and Nvidia.

Meanwhile, UBS has identified eight AI-driven Chinese stocks as the 'VENUS Eight,' and DeepSeek features among the 'Little Dragon' startups in Hangzhou, signalling China's growing tech ambitions in the global market.