https://www.scmp.com/rss/145733/feed Stock market action from around the world, with a focus on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong has struck a balance between financial security and innovation in its strategic roles as a “testing ground” and “firewall” for the nation’s reform and opening up, the city’s finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that security was core to the goal of achieving high-quality development as geopolitical tensions created risks in global financial markets and energy supplies. As Hong Kong rolled out the first batch of stablecoin licences last week, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349786/hong-kong-balancing-financial-security-innovation-nations-firewall-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349786/hong-kong-balancing-financial-security-innovation-nations-firewall-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:41:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng China’s red-chip structure – long used by internet companies to attract foreign capital while navigating domestic restrictions – is facing renewed scrutiny as regulators tighten oversight of offshore listings. The shift is already reshaping the pipeline for Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPOs), with companies increasingly being encouraged to unwind these structures or justify why they remain necessary. This explainer outlines the reasons behind the policy shift, what it means for tech IPOs,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349735/what-does-chinas-tightening-grip-red-chip-structures-mean-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349735/what-does-chinas-tightening-grip-red-chip-structures-mean-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:37:35 +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 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong China will allow pre-profit technology companies to list on the ChiNext board in Shenzhen and introduce market makers to improve liquidity, as regulators step up efforts to bolster the mainland’s second-largest stock exchange and advance the country’s push for technological self-reliance. Under the new rules, emerging-industry companies with an estimated market value of at least 3 billion yuan (US$439 million) and revenue no less than 200 million yuan in the most recent financial year would be... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349675/china-opens-chinext-exchange-pre-profit-tech-firms-push-boost-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349675/china-opens-chinext-exchange-pre-profit-tech-firms-push-boost-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:13:53 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao China’s stocks climbed on Friday, with key benchmarks in mainland China and Hong Kong briefly returning to levels last seen about two weeks ago, as signs of a possible ceasefire between the US and Iran helped boost sentiment. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.6 per cent to 25,893.54 at the close, after gaining as much as 1.3 per cent to briefly top the 26,000 mark – a level not seen since March 18. The Hang Seng Tech Index advanced 0.8 per cent. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349590/china-stocks-surge-shanghai-and-hong-kong-benchmarks-reclaim-key-levels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349590/china-stocks-surge-shanghai-and-hong-kong-benchmarks-reclaim-key-levels?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:32:16 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Xin Hua Fund Management has been reprimanded by China’s central bank for submitting inaccurate financial data and failing to rectify the issue in a timely manner, in a rare public rebuke of a mutual fund firm over compliance lapses. The Chongqing branch of the People’s Bank of China summoned the firm for regulatory talks, according to a statement on its website, ordering it to strengthen oversight of raw data quality and improve its financial reporting practices. During the meeting, regulators... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349521/chinas-central-bank-issues-rare-public-rebuke-xin-hua-fund-over-reporting-failures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349521/chinas-central-bank-issues-rare-public-rebuke-xin-hua-fund-over-reporting-failures?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:45:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Zhejiang China Commodities City Group, operator of the marketplace that was once the epicentre of global consumer goods trading, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong to support overseas expansion, as the wave of mainland Chinese firms looking to raise funds in the city continues. The state-owned company, which runs the Yiwu international trade market in east China’s Zhejiang province, said in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Wednesday that a share sale in Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349483/operator-yiwu-market-former-mecca-global-consumer-goods-trade-eyes-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349483/operator-yiwu-market-former-mecca-global-consumer-goods-trade-eyes-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:03:52 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen The United States boasts military superiority over Iran but has emerged as the strategic loser in the five-week conflict, with gains limited to a fragile two-week ceasefire and conditional passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to analysts. Shortly before US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to meet his demands or face destruction of its civilian infrastructure, the US and Iran entered a two-week ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan. Beijing reportedly intervened at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349423/why-us-iran-ceasefire-seen-failure-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349423/why-us-iran-ceasefire-seen-failure-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Orange Wang Khushboo Razdan,Orange Wang Even as the White House lauded China’s role in securing a long-awaited ceasefire that lifted global markets, US President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions by threatening a new 50 per cent tariff on countries supplying weapons to Iran, while Tehran kept the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned it could abandon the deal if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue. “There were conversations that took place between top levels of our government and China’s government,” Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349416/trump-warns-50-cent-tariffs-arms-suppliers-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349416/trump-warns-50-cent-tariffs-arms-suppliers-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:11:08 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks surged alongside other markets in Asia on Wednesday as oil plunged after the US and Iran struck a two-week ceasefire, reviving demand for risk assets that had been pummelled by fears of global stagflation. The Hang Seng Index rose 3.1 per cent to 25,893.02 points at the close after trading reopened following three days of public holidays. The mainland’s CSI 300 Index climbed 3.5 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index added 2.7 per cent. Alibaba Group Holding and other... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349319/hong-kong-stocks-jump-risk-appetite-returns-after-us-and-iran-agree-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349319/hong-kong-stocks-jump-risk-appetite-returns-after-us-and-iran-agree-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:57:13 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Rokid, a Hangzhou-based maker of smart glasses, is preparing to file for a Hong Kong listing as early as the end of April, according to sources familiar with the matter, as artificial intelligence-powered eyewear gains traction in the mainstream market. The planned listing comes as global and domestic technology groups including Meta Platforms and Apple, as well as China’s Alibaba Group Holding – through the brand name Quark – Baidu, Xiaomi and Huawei Technologies, all rush into the market.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349267/chinese-ai-glasses-maker-rokid-planning-hong-kong-ipo-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349267/chinese-ai-glasses-maker-rokid-planning-hong-kong-ipo-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong China has introduced new rules governing short-term trading, as the market regulator steps up oversight of the trading behaviour of major shareholders and listed company executives as part of a drive to bolster investor confidence. The rules apply to shareholders with a stake of 5 per cent or more in a single listed company, including foreign investors, executives of publicly traded companies, their spouses and children, according to the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). The rules... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349231/china-tightens-trading-scrutiny-major-shareholders-and-executives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349231/china-tightens-trading-scrutiny-major-shareholders-and-executives?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Initial public offerings (IPOs) on mainland Chinese markets surged 56 per cent in the first quarter from a year earlier, as the securities regulator relaxed curbs on equity financing to support the nation’s push for technological innovation. Twenty-nine companies raised a combined 25.7 billion yuan (US$3.7 billion) from the Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing stock exchanges in the first three months, according to Bloomberg data. That compared with 16.5 billion yuan raised by 27 companies in the same... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348945/china-ipos-jump-56-regulator-eases-restrictions-drive-tech-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348945/china-ipos-jump-56-regulator-eases-restrictions-drive-tech-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) is poised to report a loss of over HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) for March this week, its worst monthly loss in dollar terms since its inception 25 years ago. The sharp fall in global stock markets last month hit the MPF hard, while the uncertainties ahead stemming from the Middle East conflict have led the pension regulator and analysts to urge the 4.8 million members to adopt a diversified approach. The 378 MPF investment funds suffered a HK$103.3... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3348982/hong-kongs-mpf-set-report-worst-performance-3-years-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3348982/hong-kongs-mpf-set-report-worst-performance-3-years-march?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Chinese toymaker Pop Mart remains under pressure despite carrying out six share buy-backs over the past few days following a sell-off after its results, raising questions over whether the weakness reflects concerns about its Labubu-led growth and valuation. The Beijing-based company has stepped up efforts to support its share price through market purchases. Pop Mart bought back 700,000 shares on Thursday at prices ranging from HK$140.90 to HK$142.30, for a total of HK$99.2 million (US$12.6... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348876/chinas-pop-mart-struggles-stem-slide-despite-buy-backs-amid-labubu-reliance-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348876/chinas-pop-mart-struggles-stem-slide-despite-buy-backs-amid-labubu-reliance-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:03:57 +0000 Richard Harris Richard Harris The mighty Zambezi River has its source in northern Zambia, and flows north, west, south, then east, tracing borders for several countries including Zimbabwe. As the river enters Zimbabwe, the water molecules begin to flow faster, unknowingly energised – developing first into a rush, then eventually a torrent as they plunge down the Victoria Falls. This is an excellent analogy of the extremes of stock market price movements. In a stock market crash, prices move slowly, then very fast. My... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348698/us-hong-kong-theres-no-excuse-insider-trading?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348698/us-hong-kong-theres-no-excuse-insider-trading?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Stocks slumped and oil prices soared on Thursday after President Donald Trump vowed the US will continue to attack Iran and failed to offer a clear timetable for ending the conflict in the Middle East. The S&P 500 fell 1.1 per cent, with three out of every four stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 545 points, or 1.2 per cent, as of 9.52am Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.6 per cent. Major indexes throughout Europe and Asia also fell. The broad... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348851/us-crude-tops-us110-wall-street-falls-after-trump-vows-more-iran-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348851/us-crude-tops-us110-wall-street-falls-after-trump-vows-more-iran-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:28:54 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Mainland Chinese investors extended their buying spree of Hong Kong stocks in March, looking past the turmoil triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran and betting that Chinese assets would be able to withstand the oil shock. Onshore traders bought HK$61.4 billion (US$7.8 billion) of the city’s stocks through the cross-border exchange link programme last month, marking a third consecutive month of net inflows, data from the Hong Kong stock exchange and Bloomberg showed. The buying came even as the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348758/chinese-traders-shrug-volatility-buy-hong-kong-stocks-third-straight-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348758/chinese-traders-shrug-volatility-buy-hong-kong-stocks-third-straight-month?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Chinese and Hong Kong shares suffered their worst month since January 2024 as the war on Iran upended global oil markets and spurred economic concerns. The mainland CSI 300 lost 5.5 per cent in March, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 6.9 per cent. Both indexes also fell for the second quarter in a row. The broader MSCI Asia-Pacific Index plunged 12 per cent in US dollar terms in March, its biggest monthly loss in more than three years. Stocks have fallen around the world since Iran shut... https://www.scmp.com/plus/business/markets/article/3348529/iran-war-hits-stocks-hong-kong-ipo-boom-falters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/business/markets/article/3348529/iran-war-hits-stocks-hong-kong-ipo-boom-falters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:10:54 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology, a Chinese maker of laser chips for optical communications, has emerged as one of the mainland exchanges’ biggest beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom – with its shares rising nearly ninefold over the past year as it pursues a Hong Kong listing. The Shaanxi-based integrated device manufacturer, whose shares closed at 1,100 yuan on Friday, now ranks second by share price among mainland-listed companies, trailing only Kweichow Moutai at... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348311/what-makes-yuanjie-chinese-optical-chip-star-and-hong-kong-ipo-candidate-stand-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348311/what-makes-yuanjie-chinese-optical-chip-star-and-hong-kong-ipo-candidate-stand-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:00:06 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Beijing Tong Ren Tang Healthcare Investment, a provider of healthcare services based on traditional Chinese medicine, postponed its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) on Friday amid tepid investor demand for its shares. The delay is the first of its kind during the current IPO boom. New share offerings in the city raised about US$11.64 billion as of March 18 this year, up 385 per cent from about US$2.4 billion a year earlier, according to LSEG Data & Analytics. Tong Ren Tang was one of six... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348101/tong-ren-tang-healthcare-unit-pulls-hong-kong-ipo-scheduled-monday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348101/tong-ren-tang-healthcare-unit-pulls-hong-kong-ipo-scheduled-monday?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:30:18 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow A new artificial intelligence algorithm developed by Google that could reduce demand for memory chips triggered a slump in global memory stocks, but analysts said it presented an opportunity for investors to “buy the dip”. Shares in memory giants including Samsung and SK Hynix fell after Google said in a blog post on Tuesday that the algorithm, called TurboQuant, reduced the memory demands of key-value (KV) caches – a crucial component of how AI models are served to users – by six times through... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348038/googles-turboquant-ai-advance-dents-memory-chip-stocks-analysts-say-buy-dip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3348038/googles-turboquant-ai-advance-dents-memory-chip-stocks-analysts-say-buy-dip?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:24:11 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Shares of Chinese short-video platform Kuaishou fell more than 13 per cent to HK$45.96 by midday in Hong Kong on Thursday, a day after reporting strong sales growth, as analysts warned that its core advertising and live-streaming businesses could face mounting pressure this year. The sharp decline reflected investor concerns over a cautious growth outlook for the Beijing-based firm, compounded by its heavy spending on artificial intelligence, according to Zhang Xueru, an analyst at investment... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347951/chinas-kuaishou-slumps-analysts-flag-growth-pressure-despite-strong-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347951/chinas-kuaishou-slumps-analysts-flag-growth-pressure-despite-strong-results?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:28:50 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Jiangsu Aidea Pharmaceutical, which develops anti-HIV and Aids treatments, plans to tap Hong Kong’s initial public offering (IPO) market as it sets its sights on expansion into the US and Europe in the coming years, an executive said. The company, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Star Market, described Hong Kong as a “good window” for going global, citing the city’s “flexible” fundraising environment. Many Chinese corporations – including those in the pharmaceutical sector – would... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347933/chinas-jiangsu-aidea-eyes-hong-kong-listing-gateway-us-and-european-aids-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347933/chinas-jiangsu-aidea-eyes-hong-kong-listing-gateway-us-and-european-aids-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Chinese toymaker Pop Mart reported strong annual growth in revenue and net profit for 2025, but not enough to alleviate investor fears that the company remains too reliant on the Labubu phenomenon. Annual revenue jumped 184.7 per cent from a year earlier to 37.12 billion yuan (US$5.4 billion), while net profit surged 284.5 per cent to 13.08 billion yuan, the company said on Wednesday. However, its Hong Kong-listed shares plunged 22.5 per cent to HK$168.30 on Wednesday, marking the biggest drop... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347851/pop-mart-shares-dive-despite-soaring-profit-investors-fear-labubu-dependence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347851/pop-mart-shares-dive-despite-soaring-profit-investors-fear-labubu-dependence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:30:12 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Global stock buy-backs rose to a record US$1.46 trillion in 2025, as listed companies stepped up efforts to return cash to public shareholders amid a rally in equities, according to US asset-management firm Capital Group. Repurchases by the world’s largest publicly traded companies tracked by the money manager increased 8.4 per cent year on year, representing a net increase of US$113 billion, Capital Group said in a report released on Wednesday. The US led global buy-backs, accounting for 71 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347826/global-buy-backs-hit-record-mainland-china-hong-kong-see-declines-capital-group?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347826/global-buy-backs-hit-record-mainland-china-hong-kong-see-declines-capital-group?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks extended their rebound on Wednesday on signs that a diplomatic solution to Middle East tensions was making progress. The Hang Seng Index rose 1.1 per cent to 25,335.95 at the close, adding to a 2.7 per cent gain a day earlier. Technology stocks advanced, driving the Hang Seng Tech Index up by 1.9 per cent, after China’s anti-monopoly regulator called for an end to the price war in the on-demand food delivery market. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 1.4 per cent and the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347782/hong-kong-stocks-extend-rebound-signs-diplomatic-path-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347782/hong-kong-stocks-extend-rebound-signs-diplomatic-path-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:03:21 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Major Chinese consumer stocks listed in Hong Kong rose immediately after reporting strong full-year earnings, but retreated on Wednesday. Analysts said the results did not point to a broad recovery in the consumer market but instead underscored structural divergence and new growth drivers in mainland China consumption. Jeweller Laopu Gold posted stronger-than-expected results for 2025, with revenues of 27.3 billion yuan (US$4 billion) last year, a 221 per cent surge year on year, while net... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347779/china-consumer-stocks-jump-strong-earnings-analysts-warn-limited-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347779/china-consumer-stocks-jump-strong-earnings-analysts-warn-limited-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:39:46 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks rebounded on Tuesday on signs of a de-escalation of the US-Israel war against Iran after President Donald Trump said he would delay any attacks on the Gulf nation’s energy facilities. The Hang Seng Index surged 2.8 per cent to 25,063.71 at the close. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 2.5 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 1.3 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index advanced 1.8 per cent. Biotech firm Wuxi AppTec rallied 11 per cent to HK$113.60 after its net... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347649/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-hopes-us-iran-deal-tensions-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347649/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-hopes-us-iran-deal-tensions-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:00:45 +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 Wency Chen Wency Chen China’s Unitree Robotics has filed for a long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) on Shanghai’s Star Market, seeking to raise about 4.2 billion yuan (US$607.8 million). Widely seen as a bellwether for China’s emerging humanoid robotics industry, Unitree’s listing, if approved, could become a landmark test of investor appetite for so-called embodied AI companies. Here is what you need to know about Unitree, including how it makes a profit while peers are still burning cash, its shareholder... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347611/inside-unitrees-landmark-ipo-what-know-about-chinas-humanoid-giant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347611/inside-unitrees-landmark-ipo-what-know-about-chinas-humanoid-giant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:45:08 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Global investors should take a fresh look at China, where rapid technological advancement is converging with declining geopolitical risk relative to other regions, senior investment executives said at the Milken Institute’s Global Investors’ Symposium on Monday. The event in Hong Kong brought together 500 business leaders and senior executives from the investment, banking, finance, technology and consumer sectors under the theme “Capital in a Changing World”. “I think we should seriously think... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3347593/global-investors-pivot-stability-china-amid-turmoil-milken-forum-speakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3347593/global-investors-pivot-stability-china-amid-turmoil-milken-forum-speakers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:01:10 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Zijin Mining, China’s largest gold producer, has expanded its buying spree by acquiring controlling shares in China-based Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining for 18.26 billion yuan (US$2.64 billion), the company said. The acquisition came only two months after Zijin Mining proposed to buy Canadian Allied Gold for 28 billion yuan as part of its global expansion. Through its subsidiary Zijin Gold, the acquisition was structured in two primary tranches, Zijin Mining said in a Hong Kong stock exchange filing... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3347547/chinas-zijin-mining-clinches-us26-billion-chifeng-gold-takeover-expansion-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3347547/chinas-zijin-mining-clinches-us26-billion-chifeng-gold-takeover-expansion-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:17:31 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Shares in BTS’ agency have plunged as much as 15 per cent after a heavily promoted comeback concert by the K-pop megastars in South Korea drew a smaller crowd than authorities initially expected. Hybe’s stock later recorded its biggest intraday decline since June 2022. The group’s event at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul attracted 104,000 fans vs the 260,000 initially estimated by police, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Stringent crowd control measures, reflecting in part the authorities’... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347523/btss-south-korea-comeback-crowd-disappoints-triggering-hybe-stock-sell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347523/btss-south-korea-comeback-crowd-disappoints-triggering-hybe-stock-sell?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:50:07 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks slumped by the most in nearly a year alongside other Asian markets on Monday as investors moved to price in tighter monetary policy, with Middle East tensions showing no sign of easing. The Hang Seng Index fell 3.5 per cent to 24,382.47 at the close, the steepest drop since April 7 last year. The Hang Seng Tech Index tumbled 3.3 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index slid 3.3 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index retreated 3.6 per cent. Laopu Gold tumbled 8.6 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347522/hong-kong-stocks-tumble-asia-strait-hormuz-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347522/hong-kong-stocks-tumble-asia-strait-hormuz-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:02:29 +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 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese stocks have emerged as outperformers in the latest oil shock, reversing their reputation as laggards, as crude takes a back seat to renewable fuels in the world’s second-largest economy. The CSI 300 Index of stocks trading on the mainland’s exchanges has dropped 3.1 per cent since the US and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28, outperforming the S&P 500, the Euro Stoxx 50 and Japan’s Nikkei 225, which have all slid at least 4 per cent during the period. This marked a turnaround... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347296/chinese-stocks-shake-laggard-image-amid-oil-shock-green-transition-pays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347296/chinese-stocks-shake-laggard-image-amid-oil-shock-green-transition-pays?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:15:30 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks extended declines to cap a third consecutive weekly loss, as escalating Middle East tensions added volatility and Alibaba Group Holding reported a slump in earnings. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.9 per cent to 25,277.32 at the close on Friday, down 0.7 per cent for the week. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 1.3 per cent. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index slid 1.2 per cent, closing below the 4,000-point mark for the first time this year, while the CSI 300 Index retreated... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347229/hong-kong-stocks-waver-oil-swings-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347229/hong-kong-stocks-waver-oil-swings-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 02:02:46 +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 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s central bank named the continued stability of the country’s capital markets as a priority for 2026, a goal taking on greater significance as global markets are tested by the reverberations of the escalating US-Israel war on Iran. The People’s Bank of China designated the stability of stock, bond and foreign exchange markets as one of its “major tasks” for the year, according to a readout from a high-level meeting hosted by bank governor Pan Gongsheng on Wednesday. The bank also vowed to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347187/chinas-central-bank-pledges-stability-capital-markets-amid-global-sell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347187/chinas-central-bank-pledges-stability-capital-markets-amid-global-sell?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong A recession mindset took hold among global investors after strikes on energy infrastructure in the Middle East heightened fears that disruption to production and distribution would keep oil prices elevated for longer, darkening the global economic outlook. Crude prices staged a comeback on Thursday after Iran attacked a liquefied petroleum gas site in Qatar in retaliation for Israel’s strikes on its South Pars gas field. Brent futures surged 5.5 per cent to US$113.53 a barrel in London, and... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347170/recession-fears-grip-markets-energy-facilities-come-under-fire-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347170/recession-fears-grip-markets-energy-facilities-come-under-fire-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +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 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Stocks in Hong Kong and mainland China slumped on Thursday, with a key gauge of yuan-denominated stocks briefly breaching the 4,000-point mark for the first time in two months, as a resurgence in oil prices fuelled concerns about a global recession following the attacks on energy facilities in Gulf nations. The Hang Seng Index tumbled 2 per cent to 25,500.58 at the close. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 2.2 per cent. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index retreated 1.4 per cent,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347091/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-fed-warns-iran-conflict-clouds-inflation-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347091/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-fed-warns-iran-conflict-clouds-inflation-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:04:52 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao The US-Israel war with Iran is rapidly reshaping global investment strategies, with fund managers slashing risk exposure and hoarding cash at the fastest pace since the Covid-19 pandemic, as rising geopolitical tensions and inflation fears replace artificial intelligence trade as the market’s top concerns, according to Bank of America (BofA). Investor sentiment fell to a six-month low in March, while average cash allocations jumped to 4.3 per cent from 3.4 per cent a month earlier – the biggest... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347009/iran-conflict-drives-fund-managers-slash-risk-and-hoard-cash-bofa-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347009/iran-conflict-drives-fund-managers-slash-risk-and-hoard-cash-bofa-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:35:36 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen As semiconductor industries across South Korea, Taiwan and Japan contend with possible energy shortages due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, they also face differing levels of vulnerability regarding helium supply, according to Fitch Ratings. Helium, a by-product of natural gas extraction used in semiconductor manufacturing for ultra-clean cooling, leak detection and inert shielding, faces a global squeeze, with Qatar among the world’s most important suppliers. This comes as the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347005/korea-taiwan-chip-sectors-most-exposed-helium-shortage-amid-middle-east-war-fitch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347005/korea-taiwan-chip-sectors-most-exposed-helium-shortage-amid-middle-east-war-fitch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:15:01 +0000 Zhang Shidong,Yulu Ao Zhang Shidong,Yulu Ao The prospect of a meeting between President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Donald Trump has become a focal point for investors seeking some reassurance on growth and stability as the conflict in the Middle East dampens appetite for risk. Investors are awaiting clarity on the summit, viewing it as a potential sign of cooperation that could steady mainland China and Hong Kong equities. The meeting had been scheduled for the end of the month, but the White House said it would be postponed by five or... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346991/investors-eye-xi-trump-summit-direction-hong-kong-china-stocks-shaken-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346991/investors-eye-xi-trump-summit-direction-hong-kong-china-stocks-shaken-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:59:48 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks rose for a third day on Wednesday as investors tracked overnight gains on Wall Street and took cues from stabilising oil prices, despite lingering geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Hang Seng Index added 0.6 per cent to 26,025.42 at the close of trading, marking its third consecutive day of gains and the longest winning streak since January 29. The Hang Seng Tech Index was little changed. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index gained 0.5 per cent and the Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346952/hong-kong-stocks-extend-winning-streak-amid-stabilising-oil-prices-despite-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346952/hong-kong-stocks-extend-winning-streak-amid-stabilising-oil-prices-despite-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:04:27 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi SmartMore, the first company backed by the Hong Kong government’s investment fund, has applied for a listing, underscoring the city’s crowded pipeline of technology initial public offerings (IPOs). The unicorn, founded in 2019 and specialising in industrial artificial intelligence, submitted its application on Monday night, with Morgan Stanley, China International Capital Corporation and Deutsche Bank as joint sponsors. SmartMore provides intelligent manufacturing and digital innovation through... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346854/smartmore-first-firm-backed-hong-kong-wealth-fund-seeks-ipo-tech-pipeline-heats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346854/smartmore-first-firm-backed-hong-kong-wealth-fund-seeks-ipo-tech-pipeline-heats?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:40:12 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks rose for a second day on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street’s gains, as oil prices steadied after a sharp overnight decline, easing concerns over inflation and geopolitical tensions. The Hang Seng Index added 0.1 per cent to 25,868.54 at the close of trading, after rising as much as 1.6 per cent in the morning. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.1 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index lost 0.7 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.9 per cent. E-commerce giant... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346816/hong-kong-stocks-advance-oil-steadies-and-wall-street-rally-fuels-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346816/hong-kong-stocks-advance-oil-steadies-and-wall-street-rally-fuels-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:58:50 +0000