https://www.scmp.com/rss/271426/feed Latest news and features on investing, with a particular focus on the economies in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong recorded 17 per cent growth in investment in the first quarter of the year, driven mainly by machinery purchases and construction-related activities that reflected a steadily improving property market, the finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po noted on Sunday that while the city recorded its fastest quarterly expansion in nearly five years at 5.9 per cent, not all residents might immediately perceive the improvements in the economy. Nevertheless, he remained... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353030/hong-kong-records-17-jump-investments-led-machinery-purchases-construction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353030/hong-kong-records-17-jump-investments-led-machinery-purchases-construction?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 07:28:31 +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 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao With US equities regaining momentum amid easing tensions in the Middle East, questions are being raised as to whether global capital is rotating back into the world’s largest market. Investment advisers and fund managers said global investors were reassessing their asset allocations, though there was little evidence of a broad capital rotation away from Asia. While market performance suggested some reallocation, flow data remained inconclusive and did not point to a decisive shift away from... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352716/us-stocks-hit-record-highs-will-investors-keep-buying-or-stay-diversified?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352716/us-stocks-hit-record-highs-will-investors-keep-buying-or-stay-diversified?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Hong Kong has made “significant” progress in its bid to transform itself into a technology hub, according to a Chinese venture capital investor, whose firm was recently selected by the city to invest in local start-ups under a HK$2 billion (US$250 million) government initiative. “You can see fundamental, significant changes are indeed taking place,” said Steve Sun, founding managing partner of Dalton Venture, in an interview on Thursday. “I believe that over the next decade, Hong Kong can... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3352173/hong-kong-tech-hub-progress-significant-dalton-ventures-steve-sun-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3352173/hong-kong-tech-hub-progress-significant-dalton-ventures-steve-sun-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Gold bars, cruises, Dior beauty services and Rosewood Hong Kong vouchers are just some of the incentives Hong Kong’s major lenders are offering in hopes of capturing wealthy clients, as visitors from mainland China descend on the city during the golden week holiday starting on Friday. HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China (Hong Kong) – the city’s three biggest banks – Citigroup, DBS Hong Kong, ICBC Asia, Bank of East Asia and Hang Seng Bank have all extended the hours of certain branches on... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352097/gold-cruises-and-dior-how-hong-kong-lenders-are-enticing-wealthy-mainland-china-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352097/gold-cruises-and-dior-how-hong-kong-lenders-are-enticing-wealthy-mainland-china-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 05:30:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Sri Lanka’s loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport will need a complete overhaul if it wants to attract investors, analysts warn, after a 30-year lease agreement with an Indo-Russian joint venture failed commercially. The nation’s second international airport, built with Chinese loan, is located near a wildlife sanctuary on the island’s southern coast. It has no regular flights. Since opening in 2013, the small airport has failed to generate enough revenue to cover even its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351962/sri-lankas-investor-call-worlds-emptiest-airport-struggling-get-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351962/sri-lankas-investor-call-worlds-emptiest-airport-struggling-get-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:03:44 +0000 Peter Shadbolt Peter Shadbolt Taking the temperature of the Hong Kong art market is rarely straightforward. While aggregate sales suggest cooling momentum, the resilience of blue-chip works – including the recent high-profile sale of The Great Wave off Kanagawa – shows that demand at the very top remains intact. In November 2025, a rare impression of Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa, better known as The Great Wave, sold for a record US$2.8 million (HK$21.7 million) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. The result was all... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3351635/hong-kongs-art-market-resilience-proven-great-waves-us28-million-sale?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3351635/hong-kongs-art-market-resilience-proven-great-waves-us28-million-sale?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley Financial markets, stock markets especially, appear able to defy gravity despite the global geopolitical and economic situation. A plethora of institutional and individual explanations have been offered as to why, but most seem to miss the point. Which is, at least in part, that we have created a kind of monster in the asset management industry, which channels a glut of global savings into a limited number of investment areas and which, by virtue of these captive inflows, is able to maintain... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351213/real-reason-stock-markets-are-still-flying-high-despite-grave-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351213/real-reason-stock-markets-are-still-flying-high-despite-grave-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong China will allow qualified overseas investors to trade government bond futures contracts, as policymakers step up the opening up of the nation’s capital markets to boost foreign participation. Foreign traders, approved under the qualified foreign institutional investor (QFII) programme by the financial regulators, could buy and sell government-bond futures starting on Friday, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said in a statement on its website. The trading could only be carried... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351332/china-opens-government-bond-futures-select-foreign-investors-reform-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351332/china-opens-government-bond-futures-select-foreign-investors-reform-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China has launched a bond-market-connect scheme with Brazil, Chinese media outlets reported this week, marking the first such link among emerging markets. Schemes such as this one, often dubbed “connects” between Chinese bond or stock markets and their offshore counterparts, typically allow investors to bypass special permits or capital-flow controls when trading on either side’s exchanges. China now maintains at least five offshore capital-market “connect” schemes on three continents. Hong... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351185/brazil-beckoned-china-now-has-stock-and-bond-connect-schemes-these-5-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351185/brazil-beckoned-china-now-has-stock-and-bond-connect-schemes-these-5-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Chinese economist Fu Peng, whose candid remarks about the country’s economic ills went viral, has joined a Hong Kong cryptocurrency firm as chief scientist, hailing the “historical” leap of digital assets into mainstream finance despite their current slump. “[Digital assets] have become mature enough to be added to investment portfolios,” Fu said in Hong Kong on Thursday, addressing audience members at an event organised by his new employer Bitfire Group, a Hong Kong-listed crypto asset... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351160/chinese-economist-fu-peng-joins-hong-kong-listed-bitfire-hails-cryptos-historic-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351160/chinese-economist-fu-peng-joins-hong-kong-listed-bitfire-hails-cryptos-historic-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s commercial property market attracted US$1.6 billion in investment in the first quarter, up 41 per cent from a year earlier, as demand for office, retail and hotel assets picked up amid improving liquidity, according to JLL. Investment volumes could receive a further boost from global investors looking to redeploy their capital amid the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, the property consultancy said in a report on Tuesday. “With Asia increasingly perceived as a relatively... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350899/hong-kong-property-investment-soars-lower-funding-costs-rising-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350899/hong-kong-property-investment-soars-lower-funding-costs-rising-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Chow Yun-fat, the legendary Hong Kong actor, has sold a Mid-Levels flat after more than three decades, securing a roughly 91 per cent gain, as the city’s secondary housing market continues to strengthen. The 541 sq ft, three-bedroom flat in Corona Tower fetched HK$7.5 million (US$960,000), or HK$13,863 per square foot. The sale agreement was signed on February 11 and the transaction was registered on March 11, according to Land Registry records. The deal generated a gain of HK$3.58 million... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350739/chow-yun-fat-nets-91-gain-hong-kong-flat-after-31-years-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350739/chow-yun-fat-nets-91-gain-hong-kong-flat-after-31-years-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Zhang Shidong,Enoch Yiu Zhang Shidong,Enoch Yiu The US-Israeli war on Iran has unleashed sharp swings across global energy and financial markets, fuelling demand for safe-haven assets, with Hong Kong emerging as a potential beneficiary across gold, property and capital markets. In the third of a three-part series, we look at Hong Kong’s position as a stable base where demand for property has held firm despite the global turmoil. The seven-week military conflict in the Middle East will redefine Hong Kong’s role as a global financial centre,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350634/hong-kong-reasserts-role-safe-haven-global-finance-amid-middle-east-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350634/hong-kong-reasserts-role-safe-haven-global-finance-amid-middle-east-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:30:10 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Global retail investors have pulled back into cash amid uncertainties from Middle East conflicts, while high-net-worth clients have continued to pursue investment opportunities in Asia and alternative assets, according to the CEO of Schroders. “What we saw in March was a reversal of the trend that we had seen at the end of 2025 and in January and February, when people increased their interest in investing in stocks,” said Richard Oldfield, global CEO of Schroders. “What really happened in March... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350531/global-retail-investors-shift-cash-asia-still-draws-wealthy-clients-schroders-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350531/global-retail-investors-shift-cash-asia-still-draws-wealthy-clients-schroders-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:30:10 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese billionaire investor Duan Yongping touted Pop Mart International Group as a long-term investment and hinted that he may have already started building bullish bets, further validating his confidence in companies that are grappling with growth concerns. Duan, dubbed China’s Warren Buffett by some investors, recently said on social media that the toymaker had great growth potential to achieve its globalisation goal and that the barriers built by the company were enough to fend off... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350454/chinas-warren-buffett-calls-pop-mart-long-term-buy-hints-labubu-maker-stake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350454/chinas-warren-buffett-calls-pop-mart-long-term-buy-hints-labubu-maker-stake?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China continued to diversify its foreign exchange reserves in February, trimming its US Treasury stockpile even as overall overseas holdings of sovereign American debt rose to a record high. China’s stockpile of United States Treasuries fell to US$693.3 billion in February, down from US$694.4 billion in January, according to US Treasury Department data released on Wednesday. Although China slightly increased its US Treasury holdings in January, the uptick did little to alter a broader downward... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350275/china-trims-us-treasury-holdings-amid-rising-debt-supply-global-ownership-hits-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350275/china-trims-us-treasury-holdings-amid-rising-debt-supply-global-ownership-hits-record?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:13 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu HSBC Holdings, the biggest lender in Hong Kong and Europe by assets, is committed to the Middle East and plans to plough ahead with investments despite uncertainty in the region, according to a senior executive. Surendra Rosha, co-CEO for Asia and the Middle East, said HSBC would continue to invest in the wealth business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the coming years. Rosha is heading to Saudi Arabia, where HSBC is the biggest overseas investment bank, next week to meet clients and staff... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349866/hsbc-will-continue-invest-middle-east-long-term-even-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349866/hsbc-will-continue-invest-middle-east-long-term-even-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asian digital entrepreneurs that once saw Dubai as a safe, well-connected base for global expansion are now reassessing that view after the US-Israel war on Iran exposed vulnerabilities in the city’s appeal as a financial and technology hub. For many investors and founders from India, China and Southeast Asia, the strain is not just about physical security but also about what disruption around the Strait of Hormuz has revealed about liquidity, credit and market confidence. Dubai has in recent... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349694/how-gulf-conflict-recast-risks-asian-investors-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349694/how-gulf-conflict-recast-risks-asian-investors-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:00:11 +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 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao China’s fast-growing energy storage sector is drawing fresh interest from capital markets, with Sigenergy Technology becoming the latest to tap Hong Kong for funding, as companies ride a global push for renewable energy. The Shanghai-based firm was seeking to raise about HK$4.4 billion (US$561.6 million) via an initial public offering (IPO), according to its prospectus on Wednesday, as investor appetite builds around battery storage and smart energy systems that complement solar and electric... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349346/chinas-sigenergy-technology-seeks-us5616-million-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349346/chinas-sigenergy-technology-seeks-us5616-million-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:48:25 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu UK lender Barclays plans to continue growing its investment bank in Hong Kong, using the city as a platform to capture the growing fundraising needs in Asia and the rising opportunities from the internationalisation of the yuan, according to its global CEO. “Asia and Hong Kong are very important areas for us,” said C.S. Venkatakrishnan, global CEO of Barclays, in an interview with the South China Morning Post during a recent visit to the city. “In Hong Kong, our investment banking team is... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349118/barclays-boosts-hong-kong-presence-tap-thriving-ipo-market-global-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349118/barclays-boosts-hong-kong-presence-tap-thriving-ipo-market-global-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +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 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A proposed cap on the ground rents paid by leasehold homeowners in England and Wales is seen as favouring foreign property investors, including those from Hong Kong and mainland China, but another measure tightening rules in setting rents is dampening demand ahead of its implementation, according to analysts. An estimated 203,000 homes in England and Wales are registered to owners with an overseas address. Hongkongers hold 14 per cent, making them the largest group of foreign investors in the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349067/how-changes-home-rental-laws-england-will-impact-hong-kong-mainland-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349067/how-changes-home-rental-laws-england-will-impact-hong-kong-mainland-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen CAS Space, a leading Chinese commercial rocket maker, has filed for a listing on Shanghai’s tech-focused Star Market, joining a growing queue of private space companies seeking capital as Beijing steps up support for the sector. Founded in 2018 and incubated by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the start-up plans to raise 4.18 billion yuan (US$600 million) to fund research and development of reusable heavy-lift rockets, spacecraft and liquid-fuel engines,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348774/countdown-starts-chinese-rocket-maker-cas-space-it-sets-course-star-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348774/countdown-starts-chinese-rocket-maker-cas-space-it-sets-course-star-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:29:28 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Chinese e-commerce major JD.com has priced a 10 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion) dual-tranche offshore bond offering, as issuers from mainland China return to the currency amid improving funding conditions. The Beijing-based e-commerce giant said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday that the dim sum bond – yuan-denominated notes issued outside the mainland – comprises 7.5 billion yuan of five-year senior unsecured notes carrying a 2.05 per cent coupon, and 2.5 billion yuan of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348747/chinas-jdcom-returns-dim-sum-bond-market-10b-yuan-offering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348747/chinas-jdcom-returns-dim-sum-bond-market-10b-yuan-offering?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:30:09 +0000 Chris Pereira Chris Pereira Against a backdrop of war and global uncertainty, Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a clear message at the recent China Development Forum: China is committed to being a “harbour of stability” for the world. The forum, which drew CEOs from global companies such as Siemens, Nestlé and Apple, signalled to the world that while the United States flails, China offers reliability and steady governance. Even before the US-Israeli war on Iran, however, my inbox was already telling me that something was... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348213/surge-global-business-interest-chinas-harbour-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348213/surge-global-business-interest-chinas-harbour-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s finance chief has pledged to support the regional and global transition to a green economy by leveraging the city’s role as an international financial centre and a developing innovation and technology hub. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered the remarks at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, the fifth day of his six-day trip to the capital. He also met Chinese Finance Minister Lan Foan, exchanging views on the national and global economic outlook and fiscal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347481/hong-kong-vows-boost-green-finance-and-innovation-role-sustainable-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347481/hong-kong-vows-boost-green-finance-and-innovation-role-sustainable-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:58:10 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi Amid growing geopolitical turbulence, international capital is increasingly seeking certainty – which China offers – a leading Chinese government adviser highlighted on Sunday, as the country’s central bank governor reiterated commitment to rolling out the welcome mat for foreign investors. Speaking on the sidelines of the China Development Forum, Zheng Yongnian, dean of the school of public policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, noted that capital had been flowing to Hong... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347470/international-capital-flowing-china-investors-seek-certainty-during-iranian-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347470/international-capital-flowing-china-investors-seek-certainty-during-iranian-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:24:20 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong should leverage its position as a “safe haven for investment” to attract foreign capital amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the head of InvestHK has said, noting that more companies using Dubai as a hub have shifted to the city to diversify risk. The call came as finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po ­on Friday continued his six-day visit to Beijing, where he met Li Yunze, minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration. They discussed how Hong Kong could ­support the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347376/hong-kong-should-use-safe-haven-status-draw-capital-gulf-agency-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347376/hong-kong-should-use-safe-haven-status-draw-capital-gulf-agency-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:32:30 +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 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 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 Aileen Chuang,Peggy Ye Aileen Chuang,Peggy Ye For Hong Kong’s Topaz Family Office, investing in hotels in Japan holds up as a sound decision even as a Middle East war clouds the macroeconomic environment. The wealth manager has made Japan a central plank of its pivot into hospitality and real estate over the past two years, driven by a sharp post-pandemic tourism rebound. The investment thesis now looks increasingly robust thanks to multiple structural tailwinds and a growing pool of institutional capital flowing into the same trade. “Japan... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346535/japan-hotels-keep-luring-hong-kong-families-global-investors-despite-geopolitical-strains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346535/japan-hotels-keep-luring-hong-kong-families-global-investors-despite-geopolitical-strains?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Hong Kong stocks extended losses on Friday as the US-Iran war showed no signs of ending, with a hardline stance from both sides pushing oil prices up. The Hang Seng Index closed 1 per cent lower at 25,465.60, taking its loss to 4 per cent since the war started on February 28. The Hang Seng Tech Index also fell 1 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index lost 0.4 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.8 per cent. US President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Thursday that... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346430/hong-kong-stocks-extend-losses-us-and-iran-dig-heels-amid-escalating-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346430/hong-kong-stocks-extend-losses-us-and-iran-dig-heels-amid-escalating-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:22:18 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong OpenClaw has sparked frenzied buying on mainland China’s stock markets, defying the broader gloom stemming from Middle East hostilities, as investors chase companies compatible with deploying the open-source artificial intelligence tool. OpenClaw’s meteoric rise has fuelled the so-called “lobster” trade, a buzzword coined by traders after the AI tool’s logo. Hangzhou Shunwang Technology, which claimed it had embedded OpenClaw in its AI cloud infrastructure, soared 21 per cent in Shenzhen over... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346307/openclaw-frenzy-diverts-chinese-investors-lobster-trade-amid-us-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346307/openclaw-frenzy-diverts-chinese-investors-lobster-trade-amid-us-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:10 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Hong Kong stocks fell on Thursday as the Middle East conflict showed no signs of ending and oil prices once again crossed US$100 a barrel. The Hang Seng Index closed 0.7 per cent lower at 25,716.76. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.5 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index eased 0.4 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.1 per cent. “Markets are currently pricing low-probability left-tail outcomes, driven by uncertainty around the length and escalation path of the US-Israel war on... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346286/hong-kong-stocks-fall-oil-once-again-trades-near-us100?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3346286/hong-kong-stocks-fall-oil-once-again-trades-near-us100?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:23:48 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang India has relaxed curbs on Chinese investments in certain sectors to attract more foreign capital, as Beijing and New Delhi continue to gradually repair their economic relationship after years of tense relations. In a cabinet statement released on Tuesday, New Delhi introduced a fast-track approval mechanism for investments from land-bordering countries – including China. The move amends a previous restriction that had mandated government scrutiny for all such capital inflows. Under the new... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346213/india-opens-door-more-chinese-investment-after-6-year-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346213/india-opens-door-more-chinese-investment-after-6-year-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:34:17 +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 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Escalating geopolitical tensions and the rapid growth of Chinese technology companies are prompting international investors to shift more assets to Hong Kong, according to the head of HSBC’s local unit. The trend is benefiting the bank’s wealth management business. HSBC had added nearly 2 million new individual customers in the city over the past two years, bringing its total customer base in Hong Kong to about 7 million, said Maggie Ng, CEO of HSBC Hong Kong, in her first media interview since... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345812/hsbc-hong-kong-ceo-sees-global-tensions-china-tech-growth-drawing-wealth-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345812/hsbc-hong-kong-ceo-sees-global-tensions-china-tech-growth-drawing-wealth-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 23:30:15 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye From Sydney to Hong Kong, wealth migration is reshaping the global super-luxury property market as activity picks up after two subdued years – though the dominance of relative newcomer Dubai is now being tested by the war in the Middle East. In Sydney, Peter Li, general manager at Plus Agency, said commission revenues on super-luxury homes had risen about 20 per cent from a year earlier. The firm, which handles more than US$300 million in annual sales, has hired six new staff members since... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345695/worlds-wealthy-relocate-rewriting-property-map-will-hong-kong-win-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Zhang Shidong,Ji Siqi Zhang Shidong,Ji Siqi China’s high-level policymakers have reiterated the need to defuse financial risks and root out political corruption, two of President Xi Jinping’s long-term priorities, in the run-up to this year’s ‘two sessions’ – the annual meetings of the country’s top legislature and political advisory body. In this series, we take stock of how those efforts have progressed, and what remains to be done. When the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50,000 points for the first time in early February, US... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345708/chinas-vision-powerhouse-stock-market-its-slow-and-steady-over-boom-and-bust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345708/chinas-vision-powerhouse-stock-market-its-slow-and-steady-over-boom-and-bust?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Mia Nurmamat,Coco Feng Xiaofei Xu,Mia Nurmamat,Coco Feng China has outlined a basket of measures to support its technology sector, from creating a more flexible and inclusive fundraising ecosystem to boosting demand for hi-tech products. During a high-profile press conference in Beijing, the country’s top economic officials laid out plans to deepen reforms to ChiNext – China’s board for start-ups – and make it easier and quicker for companies to refinance. “Technological innovation requires high investment, long cycles, and carries significant risks,”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345764/china-pledges-full-support-tech-sector-broad-range-new-policies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345764/china-pledges-full-support-tech-sector-broad-range-new-policies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:05:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China will allocate more of its fiscal spending this year towards human capital and social safety nets, as Beijing seeks to boost domestic demand and unlock new growth through “investing in people”. “Efforts must be sustained to optimise the expenditure structure, with greater emphasis on supporting the boosting of consumption, investing in people, and safeguarding people’s livelihoods,” Premier Li Qiang said in his annual work report, delivered during the opening session of the National... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian The momentum in China’s venture-capital industry, which is recovering after years of decline, is likely to continue this year, mainly bolstered by government financing, but an expert warned that the lack of funding diversity poses a hidden risk. Fundraising picked up in 2025, with most of the gains coming from government sources, as central policymakers loosened rules to allow local governments to issue more bonds to finance government guidance funds, according to a report released on Tuesday by... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345502/chinas-venture-capital-revival-fuelled-state-cash-faces-risk-losing-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345502/chinas-venture-capital-revival-fuelled-state-cash-faces-risk-losing-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:20:41 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Hong Kong stocks rebounded on Thursday alongside other Asian markets from recent sell-offs triggered by surging oil prices, buoyed by robust economic data and the opening of China’s annual “two sessions” meeting. The Hang Seng Index closed 0.3 per cent higher at 25,321.34. The Hang Seng Tech Index slipped 0.7 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index climbed 1 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.6 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi led the gains in the Asia-Pacific region, surging... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345493/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-asian-peers-two-sessions-opens-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345493/hong-kong-stocks-rebound-asian-peers-two-sessions-opens-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:08:54 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Fewer Hongkongers withdrew funds from the city’s mandatory pension plan in the fourth quarter of last year, as a stock market rally prompted more members to leave their investments in place even when they stopped working or left the city, according to analysts. The number of people taking their money out of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) because they were leaving Hong Kong permanently fell 39 per cent in the final three months of 2025 from the previous quarter, to 4,200 cases, according to... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345458/more-hongkongers-leave-money-mpf-pension-plan-capitalise-market-rally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345458/more-hongkongers-leave-money-mpf-pension-plan-capitalise-market-rally?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye McDonald’s has sold another Hong Kong retail property for HK$93.5 million (US$11.9 million), extending its asset sell-down and bringing total proceeds to about HK$580 million. The ground-floor unit at Mount Sterling Mall in Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Lai Chi Kok, was sold on February 27 to Huge Power (China) Ltd., according to Land Registry records. Companies Registry filings show the directors as Kwok Chong-wah, Kwok Lap-yin and Kwok Shun-sing, members of a veteran investor family. The 6,915 square... https://www.scmp.com/property/article/3345368/mcdonalds-sells-hong-kong-shop-outside-disposal-plan-us119-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/article/3345368/mcdonalds-sells-hong-kong-shop-outside-disposal-plan-us119-million?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:28:54 +0000