https://www.scmp.com/rss/63828/feed Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is the holding company for the city’s stock exchange, futures exchange and clearing company. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu On a warm Saturday in early May, the kind of day most would choose to spend on a hike or at the beach, hundreds of Hongkongers instead stood for hours in a queue at Edinburgh Tower in Central. But despite the loss of a pleasant weekend afternoon, none would be likely to consider it time wasted. They were there claim their fair share of HK$1.5 billion (US$191 million) owed to independent shareholders of Giordano International in the largest settlement on record by the city’s Securities and... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3353713/hong-kong-market-regulator-takes-collection-agent-role-wronged-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3353713/hong-kong-market-regulator-takes-collection-agent-role-wronged-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s push to become a gold trading hub is beginning to bear fruit, with the city recording a surge in gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows in April as geopolitical tensions fuel investor demand for the yellow metal, according to industry participants. Physically backed gold ETFs in Hong Kong attracted a record US$732 million last month, according to the World Gold Council. That represented 41 per cent of Asia’s US$1.8 billion inflows and 11 per cent of the global total of US$6.6... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3353301/hong-kong-gold-push-delivers-record-us732-million-etf-inflows-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3353301/hong-kong-gold-push-delivers-record-us732-million-etf-inflows-april?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:43 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Just over a year after the London Metal Exchange (LME) approved its first batch of warehouses in Hong Kong, the city now hosts 15 facilities run by seven operators, with close to 25,000 tonnes of metals stored. It marks a triumph for both the LME and Hong Kong’s ambition to be a commodities trading hub. But the challenge is finding sufficient space to meet surging demand, said LME CEO Matthew Chamberlain in an interview on Thursday. Chamberlain described it as a “very positive problem” – though... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3353057/how-hong-kong-could-ease-its-positive-problem-full-metals-warehouses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3353057/how-hong-kong-could-ease-its-positive-problem-full-metals-warehouses?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:23 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu To break a curse of repeated failures to launch gold futures trading, bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) should extend its trading hours and the government should offer tax incentives and establish clearing and storage facilities, according to industry players. These recommendations came as HKEX aimed to relaunch gold futures in the coming months and sought market feedback to refine the plan, Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan Ho-lim told... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352903/hong-kong-prepares-gold-futures-trading-will-fourth-time-be-charm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352903/hong-kong-prepares-gold-futures-trading-will-fourth-time-be-charm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 10:30:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Every crisis presents an opportunity. Thanks to the war in the Middle East, Hong Kong has, unexpectedly, turned into a safe harbour for the trading and storage of gold and industrial metals. The city had already been positioning itself as an international gold hub, leveraging its financial infrastructure to meet growing demand for safe-haven assets. But the war has driven home how well suited Hong Kong is to becoming an alternative to Dubai, the world’s second-largest gold trading... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352701/middle-east-war-offers-hong-kong-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352701/middle-east-war-offers-hong-kong-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Julie Zhang,Enoch Yiu Julie Zhang,Enoch Yiu The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is pressing ahead with the relaunch of gold futures as mainland China’s appetite for the metal continues to grow. The city would continue to introduce new gold products and facilities to capture the growing opportunities of the gold market, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Thursday at the LME Asia Metals Seminar 2026 in Hong Kong. The HKEX planned to relaunch gold futures in coming months and seek market feedback to refine the products,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352800/gold-futures-set-hong-kong-comeback-mainland-chinas-appetite-metal-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352800/gold-futures-set-hong-kong-comeback-mainland-chinas-appetite-metal-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 14:03:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong is exploring the creation of a specialised mediation panel to handle international commodities disputes, as the city steps up efforts to position itself as a regional hub for metals trading, yuan-denominated commodities products and physical gold storage, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Thursday. The proposed panel would focus on resolving disputes across the commodities supply chain – from mining and production to trading, warehousing and delivery – and would be developed... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352703/hong-kong-sharpens-commodities-hub-ambitions-mediation-and-yuan-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352703/hong-kong-sharpens-commodities-hub-ambitions-mediation-and-yuan-push?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 04:54:45 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The war in the Middle East could create an opening for Hong Kong to develop into a regional commodities trading hub, as manufacturers in mainland China and across Asia look to the city to secure more stable metal supplies, according to industry participants. Manufacturers importing copper, aluminium and other industrial metals were increasingly considering Hong Kong as a storage base, while also seeking to tap its financial markets to hedge against price volatility driven by geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352394/middle-east-war-drives-demand-hong-kong-metal-storage-capacity-falls-short?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352394/middle-east-war-drives-demand-hong-kong-metal-storage-capacity-falls-short?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:24 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s tax revenue rose by 22 per cent to HK$458.3 billion (US$58.5 billion) in the past financial year, driven by a buoyant stock market and increased property transactions. Commissioner of Inland Revenue Benjamin Chan Sze-wai announced on Monday the provisional tax figures for the year ending March 31. Stamp duty jumped by 61 per cent to HK$102.6 billion, profits tax rose by 20 per cent to HK$212.6 billion and salaries tax increased by 10 per cent to HK$97.7 billion. “The volume of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352356/hong-kong-tax-revenue-rises-22-hk458-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352356/hong-kong-tax-revenue-rises-22-hk458-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 08:40:22 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a special economic zone in the Kazakhstan capital, is in discussions with Hong Kong and Shanghai’s equity exchanges about the creation of stock connection schemes, most likely starting with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to widen investors’ access to each other’s markets. According to AIFC’s governor Renat Bekturov, Kazakh investors’ interest in Chinese companies, from hi-tech behemoths to carmakers, was growing, inspiring organisations in both... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352276/kazakhstans-aifc-discussing-stock-trading-links-shanghai-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352276/kazakhstans-aifc-discussing-stock-trading-links-shanghai-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), operator of Asia’s third-largest stock market, reported a record quarterly profit in the first three months of 2026, buoyed by more new listings and increased turnover. Net profit rose 27 per cent to HK$5.19 billion (US$662 million) – or HK$4.10 per share – from a year earlier, the company said on Wednesday. The result beat the HK$4.6 billion consensus among analysts. It is the highest quarterly profit on record, surpassing the HK$4.9 billion in the third... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351801/hkex-posts-record-quarterly-profit-topping-forecast-listings-and-turnover-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351801/hkex-posts-record-quarterly-profit-topping-forecast-listings-and-turnover-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:50:25 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is well-positioned to forge closer financial ties with economies across Southeast Asia. The latest is with Malaysia, a win-win arrangement signalling similar pacts to follow. Given the vast pools of capital, stock exchange operators in both places are ready to join hands in developing a range of services and products, from dual listings and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to Islamic finance. Hong Kong offers plenty of opportunities for Malaysia, a growing economy with a population of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3351449/malaysia-bourse-pact-extends-hong-kongs-outreach-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3351449/malaysia-bourse-pact-extends-hong-kongs-outreach-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong is known for its speed. Now it is set to move even faster, with plans to shorten stock settlement times from next year – a shift that could strengthen its standing as an international financial centre. The city’s stock market has operated on a T+2 settlement cycle for more than three decades, meaning trades are completed two days after they are executed. That may soon change. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is consulting the market on a proposal to move to a T+1 cycle, under... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351417/can-faster-settlement-sharpen-hong-kongs-edge-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3351417/can-faster-settlement-sharpen-hong-kongs-edge-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s initial public offering (IPO) market has raised more than HK$140 billion (US$17.9 billion) as of April, maintaining its global lead, the city’s finance chief has said, while indicating a renewed push to develop gold trading amid rising demand for risk diversification. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that Hong Kong remained the world’s top IPO fundraising hub as of last week, citing a growing number of high-quality companies using the city’s strong financing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351458/hong-kongs-ipo-market-exceeds-hk140-billion-amid-renewed-gold-trading-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351458/hong-kongs-ipo-market-exceeds-hk140-billion-amid-renewed-gold-trading-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 05:27:24 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Mainland Chinese investors have slowed their purchases of Hong Kong-listed shares this year after last year’s record inflows, as more artificial intelligence investment opportunities have emerged in mainland markets, according to BNP Paribas. Southbound inflows via the Stock Connect cross-border system have reached about US$30 billion so far this year, a slower pace than 2025, when they hit US$180 billion for the full year, according to the French bank. The deceleration reflected changing market... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351090/ai-driven-hong-kong-stock-inflows-mainland-china-slow-investor-options-multiply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351090/ai-driven-hong-kong-stock-inflows-mainland-china-slow-investor-options-multiply?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:49:32 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The bourse operators of Hong Kong and Malaysia are exploring a range of collaborations, from dual listings and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to Islamic finance, to forge closer ties between the city and the Southeast Asian country. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting and Bursa Malaysia CEO Dato Fad’l Mohamed unveiled their joint development plans in a media briefing in Hong Kong on Wednesday as HKEX hosted the 40th Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation (AOSEF)... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351005/hong-kong-malaysia-stock-exchanges-team-etfs-listings-islamic-finance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351005/hong-kong-malaysia-stock-exchanges-team-etfs-listings-islamic-finance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:30:09 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Mainland China’s insurance companies have emerged as major cornerstone investors in Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPOs) as they seek higher returns and benefit from Beijing’s policy support for insurers to invest in equity markets. Ping An Insurance (Group), Taikang Life Insurance, New China Life Insurance, Dajia Life Insurance and China Post Life Insurance were among the key players that invested more than US$250 million across about 11 IPOs so far this year, according to UBS data. Their... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350821/hong-kong-ipos-lure-mainland-china-insurers-seeking-higher-returns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350821/hong-kong-ipos-lure-mainland-china-insurers-seeking-higher-returns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has proposed halving the cash settlement cycle for share trading as part of efforts to enhance market efficiency and liquidity. The city’s bourse operator said in a consultation paper on Friday that it aimed to implement a “T+1” system – under which trades are settled one day after the transaction – in the fourth quarter of 2027, replacing the existing “T+2” cycle. If adopted, the shortened cycle would apply to equities, exchange-traded products,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350526/hkex-proposes-halving-share-settlement-cycle-bid-boost-hong-kongs-financial-profile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350526/hkex-proposes-halving-share-settlement-cycle-bid-boost-hong-kongs-financial-profile?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:51:01 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Geopolitical tensions are expected to further drive fundraising demand in the mining sector amid a commodities “supercycle”, although concerns over national security could complicate dealmaking, according to industry experts. Johnson Chui, head of global issuer services at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), said 2025 had been an inflection point. Mining and metals companies had become a key driver in the capital market as rising commodity prices, triggered by the energy transition and... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3350334/geopolitics-further-fuel-hong-kong-mining-fundraising-amid-supercycle-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3350334/geopolitics-further-fuel-hong-kong-mining-fundraising-amid-supercycle-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian US investor sentiment towards Hong Kong and China equities has shifted notably, with US$14 billion in inflows over the three-month period to the end of February – the largest quarterly inflow in more than three years – lifting total holdings to US$466 billion, a record high, according to a BNP Paribas report on Thursday. “This may suggest a shift in the willingness of US capital owners to allocate more capital to Chinese equities after the substantive outflows seen between 2021 and the first... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350332/us-investors-pour-hong-kong-china-equities-largest-quarterly-inflow-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350332/us-investors-pour-hong-kong-china-equities-largest-quarterly-inflow-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:01:47 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPOs) are attracting strong international demand as global funds rebuild their exposure to China after years of underinvestment, according to Bonnie Chan Yiting, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. The Hong Kong stock exchange was seeing “very good momentum on both the supply and demand sides” for IPOs, Chan told a panel discussion at the HSBC Global Investment Summit on Wednesday. On the “cornerstone front”, last year saw “a very strong pickup by... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350162/global-funds-fuel-hong-kong-ipo-rebound-investors-rebalance-china-portfolios-hkex?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350162/global-funds-fuel-hong-kong-ipo-rebound-investors-rebalance-china-portfolios-hkex?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:13 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Fang Liu, a partner at global law firm Clifford Chance, counts among his clients many technology companies that are keen to list in Hong Kong, but find the current requirements cumbersome. Clifford Chance has helped more than a dozen innovative companies raise funds under the new listing regime since 2018, when Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) introduced reforms for pre-revenue biotech firms and companies with weighted voting rights (WVR), where one class of shareholders carries more... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349647/hong-kongs-listing-reform-20-can-it-outshine-global-rivals-innovative-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349647/hong-kongs-listing-reform-20-can-it-outshine-global-rivals-innovative-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:00:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The predicted demise of physical newspapers may be premature, but paper use in the stock market is definitely passé. Thankfully, the Securities and Futures Commission will phase it out and digitise the market within five years. That should be enough time for any Luddite to adjust. A launch date has been set for November 16 for rolling out a fully digital, paperless stock market. The aim is to boost efficiency and strengthen the city’s competitiveness. Digitalised securities and their documents... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348785/paperless-stock-market-way-forward-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348785/paperless-stock-market-way-forward-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to foster an inclusive society for people with autism, with a Unesco official saying the city has the potential to become a global hub for support services. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday highlighted the importance of a better understanding and acceptance of autistic people at an event marking the United Nations’ World Autism Awareness Day. “Awareness is our starting point. Inclusion is our destination. Action is the bridge that joins them,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348838/hong-kong-can-become-global-hub-autism-support-unesco-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348838/hong-kong-can-become-global-hub-autism-support-unesco-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:06:55 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao A burst of 16 new and refiled initial public offering (IPO) applications on Tuesday – including Miniso-backed toy retailer Top Toy – signals a renewed push by companies to tap Hong Kong’s capital markets, as the city looks to cement its standing as a leading global listing venue despite intensifying competition and lingering headwinds. The filings, disclosed by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) on March 31, span a range of sectors, though hard-tech firms dominate the pipeline. Companies... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348674/ipo-rush-returns-hong-kong-cements-its-position-top-global-listings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348674/ipo-rush-returns-hong-kong-cements-its-position-top-global-listings?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:32 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Nasdaq-listed iQiyi, a Chinese online entertainment video provider backed by Baidu, has submitted a confidential application for a listing in Hong Kong, the company said on Monday. Details of the proposed listing have yet to be finalised, the company said, pending regulatory approvals from the Hong Kong stock exchange and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, as well as the company’s own final decision. “There is no assurance that the proposed listing will take place or when it may take... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348450/streaming-giant-iqiyi-joins-homecoming-wave-proposed-us300m-hong-kong-listing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348450/streaming-giant-iqiyi-joins-homecoming-wave-proposed-us300m-hong-kong-listing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:14:47 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong will roll out a fully digital, paperless stock market from November 16, a move aimed at boosting efficiency and strengthening the city’s competitiveness, the market regulator said on Monday. About 2,600 listed companies will transition to the new system in phases over five years after the launch, while firms going public after November 16 would no longer issue physical share certificates, according to the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Investors will still be able to retain... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348437/hong-kong-turns-page-paper-shares-digital-shift-kicks-november?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348437/hong-kong-turns-page-paper-shares-digital-shift-kicks-november?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:30:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong retained its position as Asia’s top financial centre and ranked third globally, while also leading in fintech, banking and insurance, according to the latest Global Financial Centres Index released on Thursday. The twice-yearly report assessed the competitiveness of 120 financial markets. Hong Kong scored 756 points, just one point behind London and two points shy of top-ranked New York, while edging Singapore by a single point. The index is compiled by Z/Yen Group and the China... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348034/hong-kong-holds-no-3-ranking-global-capital-hub-amid-market-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348034/hong-kong-holds-no-3-ranking-global-capital-hub-amid-market-volatility?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:35:28 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Indonesian gold miner PT Merdeka Gold Resources has applied for a Hong Kong listing as it seeks to broaden its international investor base, in a move brokers see as a boost to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing’s (HKEX) efforts to attract more international companies and diversify its pipeline. The listing application was intended to “broaden the company’s access to international investors, enhance share liquidity and provide greater flexibility in raising capital to support future growth”,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347958/gold-rally-drives-merdekas-hong-kong-ipo-plan-hkex-courts-global-issuers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347958/gold-rally-drives-merdekas-hong-kong-ipo-plan-hkex-courts-global-issuers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:11:30 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The former managing director and chief China economist of bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), Ba Shusong, has not appeared in public recently and could not be contacted, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Ba is important academic who frequently gave speeches at major conferences over the past decade on behalf of HKEX, speaking about Hong Kong’s role as a connector between mainland China and the world. Mainland media outlets reported that Ba was missing,... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3347879/former-hong-kong-exchange-executive-ba-shusong-reported-out-public-sight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3347879/former-hong-kong-exchange-executive-ba-shusong-reported-out-public-sight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:30:21 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s securities watchdog has recommended strengthening the stock exchange’s system for company listing and compliance following a review. It comes at a good time as the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has proposed the biggest reform of listing rules in almost a decade. While HKEX works to make it easier and more efficient for companies to raise capital in the city, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) must ensure investors are protected with any changes. The city’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347554/hkex-should-heed-recommendations-hong-kongs-securities-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347554/hkex-should-heed-recommendations-hong-kongs-securities-watchdog?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) last week proposed its biggest set of listing reforms since 2018 for Asia’s third-largest stock exchange. Delivered in a consultation paper, the reforms aim to further improve the competitiveness of the exchange that topped the world rankings for initial public offerings (IPOs) last year. The bourse operator will collect views on the proposals, which include broadening a special listing regime for innovative companies and opening the door for listings by... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3347324/should-hong-kongs-stock-exchange-make-all-ipo-applications-confidential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3347324/should-hong-kongs-stock-exchange-make-all-ipo-applications-confidential?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:30:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has proposed the biggest overhaul of listing rules in almost a decade. China’s top stock exchange is looking ahead after regaining the global crown for initial public offerings last year following several lean years. To remain competitive, it needs to make its market more accessible to innovative firms seeking to raise capital. At the same time, the city must maintain its international reputation for financial probity and reliability. This means any... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347120/hkexs-listing-reforms-will-boost-hong-kongs-competitiveness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347120/hkexs-listing-reforms-will-boost-hong-kongs-competitiveness?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s market regulator will soon begin inspection of investment banks to assess their roles as sponsors of listing candidates, in its latest effort to uphold the quality of new listings amid a booming market. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said the inspection would focus on whether banks had complied with its January circular, which outlined expectations on staffing and quality controls when handling initial public offerings (IPOs) in Hong Kong. For example, the SFC expected... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347182/sfc-prepares-inspect-hong-kong-ipo-listing-sponsors-amid-quality-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347182/sfc-prepares-inspect-hong-kong-ipo-listing-sponsors-amid-quality-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:00:18 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s securities regulator on Wednesday recommended strengthening the stock exchange’s regulations to better protect investors following a review of 2024 compliance and enforcement cases. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) submitted its findings after vetting listed companies’ internal control reviews, their handling of late auditor resignations and the processes of the Hong Kong stock exchange’s listing division. The regulator noted that while thestock exchange “had taken steps... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347076/hong-kong-securities-watchdog-urges-stock-exchange-tighten-listing-compliance-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347076/hong-kong-securities-watchdog-urges-stock-exchange-tighten-listing-compliance-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:50:51 +0000 Themis Qi,Enoch Yiu Themis Qi,Enoch Yiu A memo circulating in mainland China’s financial community has raised concerns that Beijing plans to ban certain Chinese companies from listing in Hong Kong via a red-chip structure, with analysts fearing that this could create uncertainty for new listings in the city. According to a memo seen by the South China Morning Post, some red-chip companies – entities registered overseas but with assets and businesses within China – seeking regulatory approval for an initial public offering (IPO) in... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346903/chinas-tightened-listing-rules-some-red-chips-hong-kong-raise-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346903/chinas-tightened-listing-rules-some-red-chips-hong-kong-raise-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:10:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal,Yulu Ao Cheryl Arcibal,Yulu Ao An Ant Group subsidiary has fulfilled all the necessary requirements for acquiring Bright Smart Securities & Commodities Group, Hong Kong’s largest retail stock brokerage, after completing reporting procedures with China’s regulatory authorities, the two companies announced in a joint off-trading-hours filing on Monday. Wealthiness and Prosperity Holding, which is ultimately controlled by Ant Group, had completed reporting procedures required for high-value non-sensitive investment projects, it... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3346811/ant-group-subsidiary-completes-steps-takeover-hks-largest-retail-stock-brokerage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3346811/ant-group-subsidiary-completes-steps-takeover-hks-largest-retail-stock-brokerage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:52:51 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang More than 10 loss-making biotechnology companies have filed for Hong Kong stock exchange listings this year, bringing cutting-edge drugs and artificial intelligence-powered drug discovery platforms to market, as the city’s bourse presses ahead with reforms aimed at supporting the real economy. The latest applications came as healthcare and biotechnology equity capital market activity – stock sales by companies and their shareholders – in Hong Kong reached US$15.6 billion last year, the second... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346710/hong-kong-attracts-wave-biotech-ipo-filings-amid-ai-drug-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346710/hong-kong-attracts-wave-biotech-ipo-filings-amid-ai-drug-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:07:12 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has unveiled its biggest listing reforms since 2018, broadening its special listing regime for innovative companies and opening the door for smaller and more diverse firms to list in the city, the bourse operator said on Friday. The exchange also proposed expanding the confidential filing option to all new listing applicants, replacing the current rule that applies only to secondary listings or certain technology applicants. The reform was seen as... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346458/hkex-opens-door-small-innovative-firms-list-biggest-reforms-2018?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346458/hkex-opens-door-small-innovative-firms-list-biggest-reforms-2018?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:40:33 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Arrests in a HK$315 million (US$40 million) insider dealing case underscore Hong Kong’s commitment to upholding the integrity of its stock market amid a surge in new listings and share placements, according to industry players. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Thursday said it had arrested eight people after joining forces with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) earlier this week to raid premises connected to a hedge fund and two securities firms. The joint... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346394/hong-kong-insider-trading-arrests-send-very-strong-message-market-integrity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346394/hong-kong-insider-trading-arrests-send-very-strong-message-market-integrity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong has been urged to extend its stock trading hours to maintain its status as an international financial hub, as competitors move towards near 24-hour operations to capture global liquidity. Speaking at the “Redefining Hong Kong 2026 Budget Edition” forum organised by the South China Morning Post on Monday, Kenny Shui Chi-wai, vice-president of think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation, said the city should consider lengthening the stock market’s trading hours, which rivals were already... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346018/hong-kong-urged-extend-stock-trading-hours-keep-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346018/hong-kong-urged-extend-stock-trading-hours-keep-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:53:50 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Semiconductor display manufacturer Everdisplay Optronics (Shanghai) and robotics firm Zhejiang Galaxis Technology Group have received approval to list in Hong Kong, marking steady progress in the city’s nearly 500-strong listings pipeline. The two mainland Chinese companies published their post-hearing information packs on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Sunday, as the initial public offering (IPO) market in the city gathers pace once again after the Chinese New Year holiday. Neither firm... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345921/hong-kongs-ipo-pace-picks-2-mainland-chinese-firms-get-listing-approval?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345921/hong-kongs-ipo-pace-picks-2-mainland-chinese-firms-get-listing-approval?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 03:48:17 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu HSBC Holdings, Xiaomi, AIA, Pop Mart International, Tsingtao Brewery and others are among about 650 listed companies that may need to change their trading unit under proposed reforms by bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX). Market participants generally support the reform as it would bring Hong Kong’s stock market trading in line with international practices and allow retail investors to more easily trade a wider range of stocks, but they also warn of challenges in... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3345863/why-hkexs-board-lot-reform-could-pose-challenges-hsbc-and-others?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3345863/why-hkexs-board-lot-reform-could-pose-challenges-hsbc-and-others?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:15:12 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong must do more to shatter the glass ceilings at its roots, moving beyond token diversity to ensure motherhood no longer derails women’s careers, advocates have said on International Women’s Day. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday that women were “holding up more than half the sky” for Hong Kong as they accounted for 54 per cent of the population and comprised half of the government, legal and accounting workforce, with increasing representation in corporate leadership. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345880/hong-kong-must-ensure-motherhood-no-longer-derails-womens-careers-advocates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345880/hong-kong-must-ensure-motherhood-no-longer-derails-womens-careers-advocates?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has seen significant improvement in the gender diversity of listed companies but the bourse operator has not made progress in the area of mobility for independent directors, exchange data showed. One in five listed companies in Hong Kong have boards where women comprise 30 per cent of members, HKEX chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing said on Friday. “Gender diversity makes good business sense,” Tong said in a speech at a special gong-striking ceremony on Friday... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3345664/hkex-sees-more-women-boards-little-progress-tenure-cap-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3345664/hkex-sees-more-women-boards-little-progress-tenure-cap-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Beijing should create a “connect” scheme for initial public offerings (IPOs) in the Greater Bay Area to allow mainland Chinese and Hong Kong investors to buy into new listings across the border, HSBC Asia-Pacific chairman Peter Wong Tung-shun said on the eve of China’s annual “two sessions” meetings. “If investors in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong are further allowed to participate simultaneously in IPOs in both markets – achieving a more comprehensive IPO connect mechanism for the Greater Bay Area... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345285/hsbc-chairman-floats-ipo-connect-hong-kong-shenzhen-ahead-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345285/hsbc-chairman-floats-ipo-connect-hong-kong-shenzhen-ahead-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:30:09 +0000 Julie Zhang,Yulu Ao Julie Zhang,Yulu Ao Until last year, Fidelity International’s most significant cornerstone commitments on the Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) market dated back to 2021, when Chinese short-video platform Kuaishou Technology raised US$5.4 billion and healthcare firm Medlive Technology completed a US$543.4 million listing. Then for the next four years, the asset manager went quiet. Late last year it returned to Chinese assets in force. It backed gold miner Zijin Gold International’s US$3.2 billion listing in... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344890/big-cornerstone-comeback-whats-driving-investors-back-hong-kong-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344890/big-cornerstone-comeback-whats-driving-investors-back-hong-kong-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:00:57 +0000 Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Following a challenging cycle, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has delivered a budget returning Hong Kong to the black. After consecutive operating deficits, the operating account has returned to profit. Simultaneously, the consolidated account records a HK$2.9 billion (US$370.6 million) surplus for 2025/26, signalling stability. This turnaround is driven largely by a buoyant stock market and a stabilising property sector, reviving stamp duty revenues and investment income. This provides... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A combination of a strong initial public offering (IPO) market and bond sales has helped put Hong Kong’s financial health back in the black sooner than expected, with analysts expecting a robust pipeline of listings to be key to sustaining the city’s surplus. In his budget speech on Wednesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the city was previously expected to record a HK$67 billion deficit for the 2025-26 financial year, which ends on March 31, but emerged with an estimated HK$2.9... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344776/hong-kong-records-hk29-billion-consolidated-surplus-2025-26-heres-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344776/hong-kong-records-hk29-billion-consolidated-surplus-2025-26-heres-how?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:01:20 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) will roll out a broad package of market reforms aimed at attracting more international listings and expanding into fixed income, commodities and other asset classes over the coming years, its CEO said on Thursday. Bonnie Chan Yiting, approaching the end of her first two years as CEO at HKEX – which operates Asia’s third-largest stock exchange – outlined the strategy as the exchange reported a second consecutive year of record annual profit, driven by... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344683/hkex-profit-jumps-36-another-record-high-surging-turnover-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344683/hkex-profit-jumps-36-another-record-high-surging-turnover-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 04:25:27 +0000