https://www.scmp.com/rss/16612/feed Breaking news on market moves, and what it means to your investments en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China’s healthcare sector has been drawing offshore capital to Hong Kong-listed stocks as investors look for safe havens amid global volatility in commodities. The Hang Seng Healthcare Index, tracking some of China’s most innovative pharmaceutical companies including Akeso and Innovent Biologics, has surged about 13 per cent since March 23, outpacing the benchmark Hang Seng Index’s about 6 per cent gain over the same period. “Although the Middle East conflict has created a lot of uncertainty and... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349635/china-healthcare-stocks-outgain-hong-kong-market-middle-east-roils-global-investments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349635/china-healthcare-stocks-outgain-hong-kong-market-middle-east-roils-global-investments?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:30:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital have agreed to invest in Vietnam’s cryptocurrency trading platform CAEX, a move the exchange said would give it enough capital to join the country’s regulated pilot scheme for digital asset trading. The combined capital injection from OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital, which would be deployed in April, aimed to help CAEX – officially known as Vietnam Prosperity Cryptocurrency Asset Exchange Joint Stock Company – reach the minimum charter capital threshold of 10... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349530/okx-ventures-hashkey-investment-enables-vietnam-crypto-platforms-pilot-scheme-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349530/okx-ventures-hashkey-investment-enables-vietnam-crypto-platforms-pilot-scheme-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Investment banking fees across Asia-Pacific excluding Japan reached US$5.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, with China’s Citic Securities ranking as the region’s top earner. The total in the first three months fell 5 per cent from a year earlier, as growth in equity capital markets underwriting was offset by weaker debt capital market and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, according to an LSEG Data and Analytics report on Thursday. Helped by strong fees from its bond underwriting... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349487/citic-tops-asia-pacific-banking-fees-mainland-china-and-hong-kong-ipos-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349487/citic-tops-asia-pacific-banking-fees-mainland-china-and-hong-kong-ipos-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China’s biopharmaceutical sector is seeing an uptick in deal-making, with sovereign wealth funds from Singapore and the United Arab Emirates joining Chinese state-backed investors to back next-generation drug developers. Shanghai-based Everest Medicines agreed to spend US$250 million to acquire a Singapore company holding rights to 14 chronic-disease treatments across the Asia-Pacific region, according to a stock exchange filing on Wednesday. Its Singapore unit will acquire 100 per cent of... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349390/china-biotech-flow-picks-everest-seals-us250-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349390/china-biotech-flow-picks-everest-seals-us250-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang US dollar-denominated funds could face more hurdles when investing in Chinese tech and biotech companies as Beijing adopts a stricter approach to companies seeking listings via offshore incorporated vehicles. Indicative of Chinese regulators’ caution in overseeing sensitive industries, industry sources say the move ensures that any sale of assets does not escape regulatory scrutiny. And for any offshore incorporated structures that are approved, the stock regulator requires listing applicants to... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349166/stricter-chinese-scrutiny-offshore-vehicles-blow-tech-and-biotech-ipo-candidates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349166/stricter-chinese-scrutiny-offshore-vehicles-blow-tech-and-biotech-ipo-candidates?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Julie Zhang,Enoch Yiu Julie Zhang,Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s highly anticipated first batch of stablecoin licences did not materialise as expected by the end of March. Industry players said the delay may be caused by a slower-than-expected review process, adding that it could also be due to the regulators’ cautious stance towards launching the first batch of regulated stablecoin licences as the city seeks to cement its status as a digital-asset hub. “I don’t think [the delay] is caused by the market,” said Jack Poon, a member of the task force... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348492/hong-kongs-anticipated-stablecoin-licence-end-march-does-not-materialise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348492/hong-kongs-anticipated-stablecoin-licence-end-march-does-not-materialise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong has retained its top position in terms of initial public offering (IPO) funds raised in the first quarter of this year but industry experts said the city could lose its lead to the US over the full year given the number of mega IPOs expected there, from OpenAI to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. A total of 37 companies raised about US$13.26 billion on the Hong Kong stock exchange’s main board in the three months ended March 31, according to data released on Tuesday by LSEG Data and Analytics. That... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348536/hong-kong-retains-global-ipo-crown-first-quarter-faces-us-mega-listings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3348536/hong-kong-retains-global-ipo-crown-first-quarter-faces-us-mega-listings?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:30:12 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s art market is showing tentative signs of recovery despite economic pressures, according to UBS, which cited rising participation from the next generation of wealthy families. “We have been seeing a rebound, with more trips for auctions and purchases [in China],” said Amy Lo Choi-wan, chairman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia and CEO of UBS Hong Kong, in an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post. “So I am optimistic.” Despite a prolonged property downturn and weak... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3348293/sketching-recovery-chinas-art-market-puts-next-gen-buyers-frame-amid-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3348293/sketching-recovery-chinas-art-market-puts-next-gen-buyers-frame-amid-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:17 +0000 Peggy Ye,Themis Qi Peggy Ye,Themis Qi From luxury hotels to investment, Hong Kong is drawing Middle Eastern money as geopolitical tensions reshape travel and capital flows. Hoteliers said they were seeing a growing number of visitors from the region, many of whom were staying longer than typical guests. At the same time, investors are increasingly exploring opportunities in the city as they look to diversify their portfolios. “In Hong Kong, we have seen a recent increase in guest arrivals from the Middle East, and they tend to stay... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3348235/geopolitical-tensions-rise-middle-eastern-money-and-travellers-pivot-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3348235/geopolitical-tensions-rise-middle-eastern-money-and-travellers-pivot-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:30:15 +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 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang At least 10 weight-loss injections and oral pills are lining up for regulatory approval in China, in a market projected to reach about US$14 billion by 2030. Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster semaglutide, which generated about US$35 billion in global revenue last year, lost patent protection in China on March 20, clearing the way for rivals. The rush comes as China’s drug regulator accelerates approvals of innovative therapies, helped by a surge in out-licensing deals with global pharmaceutical... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347869/chinas-weight-loss-drug-makers-take-global-giants-novo-nordisk-patent-expires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347869/chinas-weight-loss-drug-makers-take-global-giants-novo-nordisk-patent-expires?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences agreed to buy Ouro Medicines, which is developing an antibody-based medicine for autoimmune diseases licensed from China’s Keymed Biosciences, in a deal worth up to US$2.18 billion. Gilead Sciences is among a group of global drug makers facing patent expirations and turning to mergers, acquisitions and licensing deals to refill their drug pipelines. Under the agreement, Gilead Sciences would pay shareholders of US-based Ouro Medicines US$1.675 billion... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347693/rights-antibody-drug-chinas-keymed-change-hands-gilead-acquisition-ouro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347693/rights-antibody-drug-chinas-keymed-change-hands-gilead-acquisition-ouro?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:51:07 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Private equity investment in the Asia-Pacific region is increasingly flowing into advanced manufacturing and healthcare, as global uncertainties push investors towards businesses with more predictable cash flow, according to Bain & Co research. The move away from the previously dominant technology, media and telecommunications sector “has been a gradual move, driven by the external environment and uncertainties”, said Elsa Sit, practice vice-president in the Asia-Pacific private equity team with... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347629/asian-private-equity-focused-cash-flow-fundraising-falls-12-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347629/asian-private-equity-focused-cash-flow-fundraising-falls-12-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:00:31 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang AstraZeneca said it would establish drug manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou and Shanghai as well as a separate innovation centre in Shanghai, joining a group of foreign players building new plants in China amid geopolitical tensions. The moves are part of a US$15 billion commitment the British firm pledged to make in the world’s second-largest drug market through 2030, unveiled during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in January. China’s manufacturing capabilities, integrated... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347266/global-drug-giants-double-down-china-amid-trend-build-self-reliant-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:30:09 +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 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang The wealth management businesses of Chinese investment banks in Hong Kong are growing faster than those of international rivals, as a buoyant initial public offering (IPO) market and rising cross-border flows strengthen their competitive edge. “Chinese investment banks are seeing accelerated growth … because [their] base is smaller and the current market environment favours them,” said Wang Lei, CEO of Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong), in an interview with the South China Morning Post,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346865/chinese-banks-outpace-rivals-hong-kong-wealth-growth-ipo-boom-capital-flows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346865/chinese-banks-outpace-rivals-hong-kong-wealth-growth-ipo-boom-capital-flows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:30:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Chinese contract drug makers – including WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics and WuXi XDC – face a less certain long-term revenue outlook as US pharmaceutical companies bring production in-house and reconfigure supply chains amid rising US-China tensions. While near-term earnings remained largely locked in, visibility beyond that was limited, according to Cui Cui, head of healthcare research for Asia at Jefferies. “Earnings visibility for 2026 and 2027 is still very strong – revenue momentum is largely... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346911/us-reshoring-drive-casts-shadow-over-chinas-contract-drug-makers-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346911/us-reshoring-drive-casts-shadow-over-chinas-contract-drug-makers-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:48:41 +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 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 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Chinese technology stocks are gaining momentum as they emerge largely unscathed from the US-Iran conflict and artificial intelligence “scare trades”, with agentic AI breakthroughs like OpenClaw sparking fresh monetisation hopes, according to investment experts. Global markets have been hit in recent weeks by an oil-price shock linked to the war in the Middle East, as well as an AI-driven sell-off over fears the technology could wipe out white-collar jobs. However, Chinese tech stocks remained... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346604/hopes-ai-monetisation-boost-china-tech-stocks-amid-war-market-scares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346604/hopes-ai-monetisation-boost-china-tech-stocks-amid-war-market-scares?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:30:13 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang In a landmark development, Neuracle Medical Technology has secured the country’s first-ever approval for an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) system designed to restore hand motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries, in a regulatory milestone that underscores China’s accelerating push in neurotechnology. China’s BCI start-ups, seen as potential rivals to Elon Musk’s Neuralink, are gaining momentum as regulatory support and fresh capital fuel growth. Shares of BCI companies... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346495/first-china-neuracles-implantable-brain-computer-interface-wins-approval?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346495/first-china-neuracles-implantable-brain-computer-interface-wins-approval?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:30:13 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Mainland Chinese investors can now buy shares in more than a dozen newly added Hong Kong-listed biotech and pharmaceutical companies after a reshuffle of the Stock Connect southbound trading list took effect on Monday, reflecting the sector’s growing role on the international stage. Foreign capital, however, remained cautious, analysts said. “Mainland buyers have been the main force behind the latest healthcare rally. They tend to chase smaller-cap names where a tight free float makes it easier... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346016/china-investors-energise-hong-kong-biotech-stocks-foreign-money-missing-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346016/china-investors-energise-hong-kong-biotech-stocks-foreign-money-missing-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:30:07 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former heir apparent to Hong Kong property giant New World Development (NWD), plans to spend more time in mainland China and increase his tech investments this year, with a focus on a range of sectors from artificial intelligence to aerospace, echoing China’s latest five-year plan. “If our country can realise [the 15th five-year plan], we would be stable and secure, and our future will definitely be promising,” Cheng, who is a member of the Chinese People’s Political... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3345918/hong-kong-tycoon-adrian-cheng-doubles-down-tech-step-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3345918/hong-kong-tycoon-adrian-cheng-doubles-down-tech-step-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:12:38 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang The pace and size of outlicensing deals between Chinese drug makers and global partners have accelerated this year, highlighted by two agreements announced this week, each worth more than US$1 billion. The string of deals shows how China is becoming a sought-after source of drug candidates for multinational pharmaceutical companies, which are increasingly looking for long-term partnerships rather than one-off arrangements, analysts said. The latest deals, Sino Biopharmaceutical’s agreement with... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345404/china-outlicensing-tops-us52-billion-first-two-months-rise-global-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345404/china-outlicensing-tops-us52-billion-first-two-months-rise-global-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:30:11 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the eighth entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Investors are watching Beijing’s annual “two sessions” this week for signs that the country will address drug pricing and shore up its drug payment system, as a new form of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345310/healthcare-investors-keeping-eye-two-sessions-clarity-drug-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345310/healthcare-investors-keeping-eye-two-sessions-clarity-drug-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:44:27 +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 Julie Zhang Hong Kong-listed mainland Chinese pharmaceutical companies are on track to deliver full-year profits, as surging drug sales and lucrative out-licensing deals with global partners start to pay off after years of research and development outlay. “Despite domestic challenges, particularly drug pricing pressure, the earnings performance of innovative drugs should still fare well in China in 2025,” said Tony Ren, head of Asia Healthcare Research at Macquarie Capital. Innovent Biologics, the first... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344928/hong-kong-listed-chinese-drug-firms-set-turn-corner-rising-sales-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344928/hong-kong-listed-chinese-drug-firms-set-turn-corner-rising-sales-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:22 +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 Themis Qi Themis Qi During the Chinese New Year holiday, Katty Mao struggled to find buyers for 500 “investment-grade” copper bars she bought in January, when soaring gold and silver prices made the 1kg chunks of polished metal seem like a promising investment. “I know it was a bet,” said Mao, who paid 160 yuan (US$23) each for the bars. “But the fear of missing out outweighed [any concerns].” Over the past two weeks, the advice Mao heard most often was to sell her bars to a scrap-metal dealer. The resident of... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3344636/chinas-copper-crash-bars-fall-investment-fad-scrap-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3344636/chinas-copper-crash-bars-fall-investment-fad-scrap-month?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao US investors stepped up purchases of mainland and Hong Kong equities in the fourth quarter, while Chinese funds continued to channel money into US stocks, underscoring deep two-way capital ties despite geopolitical tensions. Data from the US Treasury’s International Capital system showed that US investors were net buyers of US$9 billion worth of Asian equities in the last quarter of 2025, bringing total net purchases for the year to US$80 billion, according to a report from BNP Paribas. Of that... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344456/us-investors-increase-buying-hong-kong-mainland-chinese-stocks-despite-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344456/us-investors-increase-buying-hong-kong-mainland-chinese-stocks-despite-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:00:28 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Standard Chartered Bank, one of Hong Kong’s three note-issuing banks, reported a 16 per cent profit jump for 2025, as strong wealth management growth helped it weather rising bad debt from the city’s commercial real estate slump. The London-based bank, which generates much of its revenue from Asia, reported an underlying pre-tax profit of US$7.9 billion last year, compared with US$6.8 billion in 2024, according to a stock exchange filing on Tuesday. This matched analysts’ estimate of US$7.9... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344411/standard-chartereds-2025-profit-jumps-16-buoyed-robust-wealth-management-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344411/standard-chartereds-2025-profit-jumps-16-buoyed-robust-wealth-management-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 04:47:55 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks fell on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street’s losses, as renewed concerns about the artificial intelligence race weighed on sentiment, while mainland markets rallied on the first trading day in the Year of the Horse. The Hang Seng Index dropped 1.8 per cent to 26,590.32 at the close of trading, paring some of the 2.5 per cent gain recorded on Monday. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 2.1 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index rose 1 per cent while the Shanghai Composite Index jumped... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344393/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-ai-worries-china-markets-rally-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344393/hong-kong-stocks-retreat-ai-worries-china-markets-rally-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:58:23 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Hong Kong’s tech equity benchmark is struggling to balance the artificial intelligence frenzy and picking the right industry leaders, leading to its underperformance this year, according to analysts. The Hang Seng Tech Index, which comprises 30 technology-related companies including Tencent Holdings, Alibaba Group Holding and Meituan, has fallen 5.5 per cent this year up to Friday, giving up some of last year’s 23.5 per cent gains. In contrast, the broad-based Hang Seng Index has risen 0.3 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344255/why-hang-seng-tech-index-doldrums-while-ai-shares-are-soaring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344255/why-hang-seng-tech-index-doldrums-while-ai-shares-are-soaring?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 01:15:07 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang When an ibuprofen dance challenge went viral on the Chinese social media platform Douyin in late 2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic, shares of the country’s leading ibuprofen maker surged more than 200 per cent in two weeks. Now profits at Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical are plunging, and it is not alone, as drug makers are hit by oversupply and weakening demand. The net profit at Shandong Xinhua, a leading manufacturer and exporter of fever and pain medicines, including ibuprofen, fell 26 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344097/viral-dance-challenge-lifted-chinese-ibuprofen-makers-shares-now-they-are-languishing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344097/viral-dance-challenge-lifted-chinese-ibuprofen-makers-shares-now-they-are-languishing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s financial markets on Friday greeted the Year of the Horse with a mixed response, with stocks and gold moving in different directions on the first trading day of the year. Markets reopened on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, with the Hang Seng Index closing 1.1 per cent lower at 26,413.25, and gold advancing 0.6 per cent to end the day at HK$46,685 (US$5,985) a tael (37.9 grams). Hong Kong Gold Exchange (HKGX) chairman Haywood Cheung Tak-hay said the exchange would team up with... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3344067/hong-kong-stocks-and-gold-start-year-horse-mixed-note?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3344067/hong-kong-stocks-and-gold-start-year-horse-mixed-note?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:40:58 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks fell on Friday on the first trading day of the Year of the Horse, led by tech heavyweights, with escalating tensions between the US and Iran hurting sentiment. The Hang Seng Index closed 1.1 per cent lower at 26,413.35, after the market reopened following a three-day holiday for the Lunar New Year. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 2.9 per cent. Mainland China’s bourses are closed this week and will reopen on Tuesday. E-commerce major Alibaba Group Holding slumped 4.9 per cent to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344062/hong-kong-stocks-fall-market-reopens-after-3-day-lunar-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344062/hong-kong-stocks-fall-market-reopens-after-3-day-lunar-new-year-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:04:32 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Gold’s volatile run is far from over, with the precious metal increasingly reasserting itself as an alternative form of “risk-free” money alongside the US dollar amid persistent inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, according to Jupiter Asset Management. With physical bullion in short supply, the firm sees mining companies as a more efficient way to gain exposure, offering potentially higher returns from smaller allocations thanks to strong profits and free cash flow. The outlook follows a... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3343907/golds-volatile-run-set-continue-investors-eye-next-breakout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3343907/golds-volatile-run-set-continue-investors-eye-next-breakout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:30:15 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The Year of the Horse is set to bring volatility for the investments of Hong Kong’s 4.8 million Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) members, following a record-breaking Year of the Snake that ended on Monday, according to analysts. The next zodiac year, which begins on Tuesday, is the seventh in the Chinese lunar calendar’s 12-year cycle, each represented by an animal. The Year of the Snake delivered estimated earnings of HK$251.6 billion (US$32 billion), the highest on record since the MPF was... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343304/can-hong-kongs-48-million-mpf-members-repeat-record-gains-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343304/can-hong-kongs-48-million-mpf-members-repeat-record-gains-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks rose on Monday as investors headed into the Lunar New Year holiday on an upbeat note, betting that the Year of the Horse will extend a rally that delivered the biggest lunar-year gain in eight years amid strong southbound inflows. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 per cent to 26,705.94 at the close of trading at noon, ending a two-day decline. The Hang Seng Tech Index added 0.1 per cent. The Hang Seng Index is up 32 per cent since the Year of the Snake began on January 29, 2025, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343666/hong-kong-stocks-slip-light-trading-investors-prepare-lunar-new-year-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343666/hong-kong-stocks-slip-light-trading-investors-prepare-lunar-new-year-break?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:51:02 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao South Korean investors returned to mainland equities at the start of 2026, ramping up purchases of Hong Kong-listed players in artificial intelligence and semiconductors amid enduring enthusiasm for the tech sector. They bought US$92.5 million worth of Hong Kong-listed shares this year as of February 13, according to data from SEIBro, a portal maintained by the Korea Securities Depository. The buying was concentrated in newly listed technology companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343628/korean-investors-pour-us925-million-hong-kong-listed-ai-tech-stocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343628/korean-investors-pour-us925-million-hong-kong-listed-ai-tech-stocks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:30:13 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Unisplendour Corporation, a subsidiary of state-backed Tsinghua Holdings, has scrapped its Hong Kong listing plan that had been in the works for nearly a year. The Shenzhen-listed company said in an exchange filing on Wednesday that its board had voted to terminate the proposed share issuance on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The termination would not have any “significant impact” on its business operations, the statement added. Simultaneously, Unisplendour announced plans to raise up to 5.57... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343228/shenzhen-listed-unisplendour-abandons-year-long-effort-raise-funds-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343228/shenzhen-listed-unisplendour-abandons-year-long-effort-raise-funds-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:37 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Global index provider MSCI revised its China gauge on Wednesday, swapping property and conglomerates for semiconductor and artificial intelligence stocks in a sign of technology’s rising role in the economy. The MSCI China Index added tech stocks including SenseTime, Pony.ai and Hesai Technology for a second straight quarter of net constituent growth since late 2025, a move analysts said would accelerate capital flows into the country’s technology sector. Against a macro backdrop of a relatively... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3343220/index-compiler-msci-tilts-towards-chinese-tech-stocks-latest-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3343220/index-compiler-msci-tilts-towards-chinese-tech-stocks-latest-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China’s state-backed investors are stepping up funding for artificial intelligence-driven drug developers as Beijing pushes for technological self-reliance, with at least one company already advancing an AI-designed therapy into late-stage clinical trials. Hangzhou-based METiS TechBio, founded in 2020, raised 400 million yuan (US$57.9 million) in series D financing in August last year, led by the Beijing Medical and Health Industry Investment Fund and the Daxing Industrial Investment Fund – both... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343151/capital-injection-china-backs-ai-drug-makers-self-reliance-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343151/capital-injection-china-backs-ai-drug-makers-self-reliance-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks rose on Wednesday, supported by holiday-related flows ahead of the Lunar New Year break, with investors adjusting positions as the market heads into a shortened trading schedule next week. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 per cent to 27,266.38 at the close of trading, adding to the 0.6 per cent gain recorded on Tuesday. The Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 0.9 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index fell 0.2 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.1 per cent. Wuxi... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343127/hong-kong-stocks-rise-positive-holiday-bias-sets-ahead-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343127/hong-kong-stocks-rise-positive-holiday-bias-sets-ahead-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:52:29 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Chinese healthcare companies are looking to expand overseas to serve Chinese communities in regions such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where many mainland companies are setting up operations across sectors. “A wide range of Chinese companies are expanding overseas,” setting up local operations and bringing Chinese employees with them, said Philip Wang, CEO of Distinct Healthcare Holdings, in an interview on Monday. “Chinese expatriate workers are often not familiar with the local... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343106/chinese-healthcare-firms-expand-overseas-support-growing-expat-community?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343106/chinese-healthcare-firms-expand-overseas-support-growing-expat-community?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:00:34 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Investors in mainland China raised their stakes in Hong Kong-listed drug makers through the cross-border trading link over the past week, as a wave of out-licensing deals between the country’s pharmaceutical firms and global partners rolls on. The Hang Seng Southbound Connect Hong Kong Innovative Drug Index, which tracks around 40 of the largest Hong Kong-listed Chinese drug manufacturers, biotech researchers and AI-driven drug developers by market capitalisation, rose about 8 per cent between... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343011/chinese-investors-pour-hong-kong-listed-drug-stocks-international-deals-multiply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343011/chinese-investors-pour-hong-kong-listed-drug-stocks-international-deals-multiply?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:18 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Stock exchanges in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing – the three major bourses in mainland China – announced a package of measures on Monday to fast-track fundraising for cutting-edge firms amid the country’s self-reliance push in tech. The three operators said they would shorten waiting periods for listed technology firms filing for refinancing or post-initial-public-offering (IPO) fundraising activities, cutting the refinancing interval to as little as six months, according to state news agency... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343000/china-slashes-wait-times-loss-making-tech-firms-seeking-refinancing-fundraising?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3343000/china-slashes-wait-times-loss-making-tech-firms-seeking-refinancing-fundraising?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:26:47 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang A unit of Fosun Pharma has struck a US$1.55 billion deal to license its home-grown cancer drug to Japan’s Eisai, adding to a wave of out-licensing agreements that are channelling billions of dollars into Chinese novel drug development. The deal comes as Chinese novel drug makers are having more say in how their new medicines are developed with global partners, shifting from simple one-off licensing fees, where a company is paid for granting rights to its drug, to long-term collaborations. Under... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342652/fosun-pharmas-us155-billion-eisai-deal-signals-shift-long-term-partnerships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342652/fosun-pharmas-us155-billion-eisai-deal-signals-shift-long-term-partnerships?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:00:15 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks edged up on Thursday, as robust southbound inflows overcame losses in technology shares driven by valuation and AI-related concerns. The Hang Seng Index ended 0.1 per cent higher at 26,885.24 as of the close of trading, after dropping as much as 1.6 per cent. The Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.7 per cent. On the mainland, both the CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.6 per cent. Search-engine operator Baidu rose 2.7 per cent to HK$140.90 after unveiling a US$5... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342440/alibaba-kuaishou-smic-drop-hong-kong-tech-stock-sell-ai-fears-grip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342440/alibaba-kuaishou-smic-drop-hong-kong-tech-stock-sell-ai-fears-grip?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:13:15 +0000