https://www.scmp.com/rss/517451/feed Aileen has reported in Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States for media organisations such as Loan Pricing Corp, Risk.net, the Associated Press and National Public Radio. She is from Taiwan and holds a master of science degree in journalism from Northwestern University. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang HSBC and a joint venture led by Standard Chartered are expected to be among the first companies to obtain Hong Kong’s stablecoin licences within two weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. The number of licences and timetable had yet to be finalised and remained subject to change, but sources said a possible date was March 24. The two banks declined to comment. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) last month revealed that a small number of stablecoin licences would be granted... https://www.scmp.com/business/cryptocurrency/article/3346311/hong-kong-poised-grant-first-stablecoin-licences-hsbc-standard-chartered-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/cryptocurrency/article/3346311/hong-kong-poised-grant-first-stablecoin-licences-hsbc-standard-chartered-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Enoch Yiu Aileen Chuang,Enoch Yiu HSBC Holdings and its subsidiary Hang Seng Bank are phasing out their remote-work flexibility as they tighten their post-pandemic policy in Hong Kong, requiring frontline employees to be in the office or meet clients five days a week. In an internal memo seen by the South China Morning Post, HSBC, the city’s largest bank, asked client-facing staff, including traders and salespeople, to follow the new rules from April 1. Sources said Hang Seng Bank would follow the same rules. Managing directors... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346083/hsbc-phases-out-work-home-flexibility-frontline-staff-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346083/hsbc-phases-out-work-home-flexibility-frontline-staff-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:44:31 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Private equity and other investment firms remain broadly optimistic about deploying capital in acquisitions and initial public offerings (IPOs) globally, supported by ample dry powder and diversification efforts while keeping a close eye on geopolitics, according to senior investment bankers. As geopolitical uncertainty had become a constant factor in the global market in recent years, “we are broadly optimistic about the opportunities”, Ashu Khullar, head of global asset managers at Citigroup,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345981/investment-firms-remain-upbeat-deals-despite-geopolitical-tensions-bankers-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345981/investment-firms-remain-upbeat-deals-despite-geopolitical-tensions-bankers-say?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:45:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Semiconductor display manufacturer Everdisplay Optronics (Shanghai) and robotics firm Zhejiang Galaxis Technology Group have received approval to list in Hong Kong, marking steady progress in the city’s nearly 500-strong listings pipeline. The two mainland Chinese companies published their post-hearing information packs on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Sunday, as the initial public offering (IPO) market in the city gathers pace once again after the Chinese New Year holiday. Neither firm... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345921/hong-kongs-ipo-pace-picks-2-mainland-chinese-firms-get-listing-approval?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345921/hong-kongs-ipo-pace-picks-2-mainland-chinese-firms-get-listing-approval?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 03:48:17 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Major Hong Kong developer Sino Land posted a steady net profit for the six months ended December, propped up by early gains from a recovery in the city’s residential property market. Sino Land reported a net profit of HK$2.22 billion (US$284 million) in the first half of its current financial year – excluding revaluation losses on investment properties – that was slightly down from HK$2.24 billion a year earlier, according to its Hong Kong stock exchange filing on Friday. The company’s revenue... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3344915/hong-kong-developer-sino-land-posts-steady-profit-points-clear-market-improvements?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3344915/hong-kong-developer-sino-land-posts-steady-profit-points-clear-market-improvements?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:53:21 +0000 Peggy Ye,Aileen Chuang Peggy Ye,Aileen Chuang New World Development posted a net loss of HK$3.73 billion (US$477 million) for the first half of fiscal 2026, as asset write-downs continued to weigh on earnings despite improving Hong Kong home sales and ongoing deleveraging efforts. The loss narrowed 44 per cent year on year for the six months ended December 31, as impairments on investment properties eased and financing and tax expenses related to mainland projects declined, according to a Hong Kong stock exchange filing on Friday. No... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344882/new-world-reports-first-half-loss-deleveraging-takes-priority-dividend-suspended?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344882/new-world-reports-first-half-loss-deleveraging-takes-priority-dividend-suspended?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:34:57 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Emily Hung Aileen Chuang,Emily Hung Hong Kong is aiming to sharpen its competitive edge as an offshore yuan hub, an asset and wealth management base, and a digital-asset front runner under Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s budget released on Wednesday. Market participants largely welcomed Hong Kong’s renewed push to strengthen its position as an international financial centre, after Chan highlighted the city’s unique role in driving the yuan’s internationalisation and capital account opening. The initiative comes as Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3344634/hong-kong-seeks-hone-edge-offshore-yuan-hub-digital-asset-front-runner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3344634/hong-kong-seeks-hone-edge-offshore-yuan-hub-digital-asset-front-runner?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:23:24 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang China’s Harbour BioMed has struck a deal worth more than US$1.2 billion with a clinical-stage biotechnology company to develop and commercialise an antibody outside China, as the country’s novel drug makers increasingly secure not only upfront licensing fees but also long-term international partnerships. The Shanghai-based company announced a licence and equity agreement on Monday with Solstice Oncology, a firm established by a syndicate of venture capital investors, for the exclusive... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344311/wave-chinese-biotech-deals-builds-harbour-biomed-solstice-sign-us12-billion-pact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344311/wave-chinese-biotech-deals-builds-harbour-biomed-solstice-sign-us12-billion-pact?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:15:13 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Deeper regulatory ties and a shared push for new growth sectors are expected to give fresh impetus to cross-border investment flows between China and the Middle East, according to industry players and a United Arab Emirates (UAE) regulator. Hong Kong would benefit from the increased China-Middle East cooperation as the city develops into “a key hub for Middle Eastern capital to deploy in Asia and an important gateway for Chinese capital to go global to the Middle East,” said Linda Cai, inbound... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344127/hong-kong-uae-solidify-financial-links-deeper-regulatory-ties-digital-assets-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344127/hong-kong-uae-solidify-financial-links-deeper-regulatory-ties-digital-assets-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang This Lunar New Year, Hongkongers can gift friends and family digital gold tokens, a new way of blending the city’s tradition of giving gold for good wishes with the convenience of blockchain technology. HSBC added this new transfer feature earlier this month to its retail gold token, which represents fractional ownership of physical gold stored in a secure vault and is the only retail-focused gold token approved by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission. The bank’s enhancement to its gold... https://www.scmp.com/business/cryptocurrency/article/3343695/what-tokenised-gold-and-why-are-financial-institutions-and-investors-looking-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/cryptocurrency/article/3343695/what-tokenised-gold-and-why-are-financial-institutions-and-investors-looking-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:00:17 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang WuXi Biologics expects a sharp rise in full-year earnings for 2025, forecasting a 46.3 per cent increase in profit as it secures more projects across the drug development value chain, from discovery through to manufacturing. In a positive profit alert filed with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday, the company said profit attributable to equity shareholders would reach about 4.91 billion yuan (US$710 million), while revenue is set to climb 16.7 per cent to 21.79 billion yuan. Shares rose... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343149/wuxi-biologics-earnings-jump-follow-and-win-molecule-strategy-pays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343149/wuxi-biologics-earnings-jump-follow-and-win-molecule-strategy-pays?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:42:07 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market is expected to have its best year ever, with artificial intelligence dominating activity despite recent volatility in technology stocks and broader jitters across assets, according to senior investment bankers at Citigroup. Market participants worldwide faced a repricing in the digital economy and a wave of sell-offs across tech stocks, commodities and cryptocurrencies last week as investors grappled with the implications of AI. However, the turmoil... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3342869/ma-market-firing-all-cylinders-headed-record-year-citigroup-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3342869/ma-market-firing-all-cylinders-headed-record-year-citigroup-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:30:13 +0000 Cao Li,Aileen Chuang Cao Li,Aileen Chuang Leading agricultural technology firm Syngenta Group is considering a Hong Kong listing that could raise as much as US$10 billion, in what would rank among the city’s largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in recent years. The Swiss-founded company, acquired by Chinese state-owned Sinochem in 2017, is in talks with investment banks to arrange the share sale, sources told the South China Morning Post. CICC and UBS are among the banks that are advising on the listing. Both banks declined to... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342627/syngenta-eyes-return-markets-potential-us10-billion-hong-kong-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342627/syngenta-eyes-return-markets-potential-us10-billion-hong-kong-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:50:43 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Shares of China’s biggest pig breeder Muyuan Foods opened flat in their Hong Kong debut on Friday, reflecting a cooling in the city’s red-hot initial public offering (IPO) market as retail investors turn more cautious. The world’s largest hog firm’s shares first changed hands at the offer price of HK$39 and gained 3.9 per cent to HK$40.52 at the close, as the firm’s long-term growth prospects gained footing. Muyuan raised HK$10.7 billion (US$1.4 billion) after pricing the shares at the top of... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3342579/chinas-biggest-pork-producer-muyuan-has-subdued-hong-kong-share-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3342579/chinas-biggest-pork-producer-muyuan-has-subdued-hong-kong-share-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:42:24 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang China’s yuan is gaining traction as a go-to fundraising currency for companies expanding overseas, bolstered by favourable conditions, including a larger central-bank quota that offers cheaper, stable funding in Hong Kong, according to market participants. The mainland currency’s renewed momentum comes amid its recent appreciation, a broader shift away from US assets and the decision by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to double the RMB Business Facility (RBF) to 200 billion yuan (US$28.8... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341981/yuan-finds-footing-corporate-finance-bolstering-beijings-internationalisation-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341981/yuan-finds-footing-corporate-finance-bolstering-beijings-internationalisation-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong’s new share market continues to sizzle, with three companies seeking to raise a combined US$2 billion on Thursday, led by Chinese pig-breeding giant Muyuan Foods, which launched the city’s largest flotation of the year. The world’s largest hog firm planned to raise HK$10.7 billion (US$1.4 billion) by selling about 274 million new shares at up to HK$39 each, according to its prospectus, hot on the heels of another billion-dollar deal from Chinese drinks giant Eastroc Beverage. At the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341623/3-mainland-chinese-firms-add-hong-kongs-ipo-boom-us2-billion-fundraising?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341623/3-mainland-chinese-firms-add-hong-kongs-ipo-boom-us2-billion-fundraising?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:00:54 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) is eyeing investments in fintech, aerospace and artificial intelligence, tapping the city’s strengths and a wave of incoming talent and enterprises as geopolitical shifts create new opportunities, according to its CEO. The city’s wholly owned investment vehicle, which manages HK$62 billion (US$8 billion) in funds, would look at these new sectors in addition to its other focus areas, “playing to Hong Kong’s advantages in the context of the global... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341515/hong-kongs-us8-billion-wealth-fund-eyes-fintech-aerospace-and-ai-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341515/hong-kongs-us8-billion-wealth-fund-eyes-fintech-aerospace-and-ai-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:48:09 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang China has emerged as the world’s second most competitive country for artificial intelligence in finance, ranking behind the US but well ahead of the rest of Asia, according to a global index. China scored 83.41 in the Global AI Competitiveness Index, trailing the US at 98.84 and ahead of the UK at 78.26, a report released on Wednesday by think tank Deep Knowledge Group showed. Switzerland ranked fourth, followed by Singapore, Germany, Saudi Arabia and India. The world’s second-largest economy... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341439/china-second-only-us-global-ai-finance-index-hong-kong-third-city-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341439/china-second-only-us-global-ai-finance-index-hong-kong-third-city-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:30:12 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The sudden appreciation of the Japanese yen has intensified risk-off sentiment among investors, as concerns over elevated bond yields, policy uncertainty and credit risks in the world’s fifth-largest economy weigh on market confidence, according to analysts. The yen rose to a two-month high on Monday, hitting 153.61 per US dollar as of 5.30pm as speculation surged that US and Japanese authorities could intervene to prop up the currency. It was last at a similar level on November 6, when it... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3341275/spiking-yen-fuels-risk-averse-mood-investors-take-defensive-stance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3341275/spiking-yen-fuels-risk-averse-mood-investors-take-defensive-stance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Chinese energy-drinks maker Eastroc Beverage has kicked off a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) to raise up to HK$10.1 billion (US$1.3 billion), making it the city’s largest listing this year that has already seen a dozen companies raise more than US$4.5 billion. The Shanghai-listed firm was offering 40.9 million shares at a maximum price of HK$248 each, according to its prospectus filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday. At this price, the firm would be valued at around US$21... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341216/chinese-drinks-maker-eastrocs-us13-billion-hong-kong-ipo-gives-it-wings-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3341216/chinese-drinks-maker-eastrocs-us13-billion-hong-kong-ipo-gives-it-wings-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:47:52 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The board of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical approved the spin-off and Hong Kong listing of its vaccine unit, aiming to bolster the business as biotechnology shares continue to outperform in the city’s stock market. The board cleared the proposed spin-off of Fosun Adgenvax (Chengdu) Biopharmaceutical for a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) on Thursday, according to a late filing by Fosun Pharma, whose shares are listed in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The filing did not disclose the planned IPO... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340932/chinas-fosun-pharma-eyes-spin-listing-vaccine-unit-hot-hong-kong-ipo-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340932/chinas-fosun-pharma-eyes-spin-listing-vaccine-unit-hot-hong-kong-ipo-market?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 04:30:49 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang A sudden spike in volatility in Japanese government bonds (JGBs) – long seen as among the world’s safest assets – is stoking concern that risk aversion is rippling through Asian markets across asset classes, according to analysts. Investors have repriced the term and risk premiums on JGBs as fiscal worries that started simmering last year have flared again after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged tax cuts and higher spending. The 40-year bond yield rose above 4 per cent on Tuesday, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3340667/japan-bond-volatility-raises-contagion-alarm-asias-stocks-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3340667/japan-bond-volatility-raises-contagion-alarm-asias-stocks-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:11:50 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Busy Ming Group, China’s largest snack and drink retailer, is seeking to raise up to HK$3.34 billion (US$428 million) in a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO), testing investors’ appetite for consumer-oriented stocks. The firm, which focuses on a value model, planned to sell 14.1 million shares at HK$229.60 to HK$236.60, according to its prospectus filed with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday. The stock is expected to begin trading on January 28. Busy Ming owns two brands – Busy for... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340497/chinas-busy-ming-test-investor-appetite-consumer-plays-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340497/chinas-busy-ming-test-investor-appetite-consumer-plays-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:55:03 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong’s local currency and offshore yuan bonds are expected to maintain their growth momentum in 2026, driven by deepened market benchmarks and demand, according to a senior banker. The broader Asian bond market, excluding Japan, has had a busy start to 2026, with high-profile issuances in Hong Kong dollars and offshore yuan leading the way, riding on last year’s record volumes. On Friday, Kuaishou Technology sold a 3.5 billion yuan (US$502 million) five-year note – known as a dim sum bond –... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340322/hong-kong-dollar-and-yuan-bonds-forecast-sustain-record-growth-momentum-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3340322/hong-kong-dollar-and-yuan-bonds-forecast-sustain-record-growth-momentum-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), the parent of embattled New World Development (NWD), will keep pursuing deals that create “win-win outcomes”, chairman Henry Cheng Kar-shun said as he revealed the private investment holding company’s philosophy for the first time. While all investors love to talk about mutual benefit, Cheng told the Post – in his first statement to the media in more than two years – that it was more than pretty words for CTFE. The organisation ran with the discipline of an... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3340314/chow-tai-fooks-henry-cheng-reveals-hong-kong-empires-win-win-investment-philosophy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3340314/chow-tai-fooks-henry-cheng-reveals-hong-kong-empires-win-win-investment-philosophy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 23:00:15 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Growth in sovereign investors’ exposure to mainland China in 2025 slowed amid rising political sensitivities, but experts said selective opportunities and closer bilateral ties could support the outlook. The world’s second-largest economy received US$4.3 billion in investments from sovereign wealth funds, public pension funds and central banks, down 58 per cent from US$10.3 billion in 2024, according to Global SWF, which tracks 792 such state-owned investors. “Sovereign investment activity has... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339836/sovereign-investors-cut-mainland-china-exposure-political-sensitivities-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339836/sovereign-investors-cut-mainland-china-exposure-political-sensitivities-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:00:13 +0000 Themis Qi,Aileen Chuang Themis Qi,Aileen Chuang Mainland chip designer GigaDevice Semiconductor jumped more than 37 per cent on its first trading day in Hong Kong on Tuesday, as the Beijing-based firm’s debut catered to investor appetite for tech companies amid China’s push for self-reliance. The firm’s shares surged 45 per cent to HK$235 at the start of trading, versus the offer price of HK$162, before ending the day up 37.5 per cent at HK$222.80. The close valued the company at around HK$155.2 billion (US$19.9 billion). Its Shanghai-listed... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339660/chip-designer-gigadevice-surges-45-hong-kong-debut-amid-chinas-self-reliance-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339660/chip-designer-gigadevice-surges-45-hong-kong-debut-amid-chinas-self-reliance-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Enoch Yiu,Aileen Chuang Enoch Yiu,Aileen Chuang Following the January 8 shareholder vote that overwhelmingly approved the largest privatisation deal in Hong Kong’s history, many questions remain about the future of Hang Seng Bank, its stakeholders and the broader financial landscape. For Hang Seng Bank’s shareholders, the immediate question is what to do with the HK$106.16 billion (US$13.6 billion) windfall from HSBC Holdings for acquiring the remaining 37 per cent it does not own. “I invested in Hang Seng Bank for the long term because of... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339319/what-does-hsbcs-buyout-hang-seng-bank-mean-its-future-and-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339319/what-does-hsbcs-buyout-hang-seng-bank-mean-its-future-and-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Shares of Chinese artificial intelligence start-up MiniMax Group surged on their Hong Kong debut on Friday, reflecting investor confidence after securing substantial support from global institutional backers. The company’s shares first changed hands at HK$235.40, up 42.7 per cent from the initial public offering (IPO) price of HK$165. The stock surged as much as 113.2 per cent to HK$351.80 before ending the day 109.1 per cent higher at HK$345, valuing it at HK$106.7 billion (US$13.7... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339251/chinese-ai-start-minimax-shines-hong-kong-ipo-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339251/chinese-ai-start-minimax-shines-hong-kong-ipo-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:59:41 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Enoch Yiu,Themis Qi Aileen Chuang,Enoch Yiu,Themis Qi Hong Kong’s banking sector began a new chapter on Thursday as Hang Seng Bank shareholders approved HSBC Holdings’ bid to take the lender private in a deal worth nearly US$14 billion. The proposal, under which HSBC offered shareholders HK$155 a share – 30 per cent higher than Hang Seng Bank’s HK$119 closing price on the last trading day before the announcement on October 9, received strong shareholder support, with 85.75 per cent of the votes, according to Hang Seng Bank. It surpassed the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339044/hang-seng-bank-shareholders-set-back-hsbcs-privatisation-plan-hong-kong-lender?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339044/hang-seng-bank-shareholders-set-back-hsbcs-privatisation-plan-hong-kong-lender?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Chinese start-up Zhipu AI headlined a trio of technology new listings in Hong Kong on Thursday, in a key test of investor confidence in China’s AI industry as it goes head to head with US giants. Shares of the Beijing-based company rose 3.3 per cent to HK$120 at the open from the initial public offering (IPO) price of HK$116.20. The stock later rose as much as 16.2 per cent before ending the day 13.2 per cent higher at HK$131.50, valuing the company at HK$57.89 billion (US$7.43 billion). Zhipu... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339109/three-chinese-tech-stocks-gain-hong-kong-debuts-investors-jump-ai-robotics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3339109/three-chinese-tech-stocks-gain-hong-kong-debuts-investors-jump-ai-robotics?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:43:13 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang MiniMax is set to raise at least HK$4.2 billion (US$537.7 million) by pricing its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) at the top of its marketed range, underscoring strong demand for China’s artificial intelligence sector amid an intensifying race with the US. The Shanghai-based firm, backed by Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings, planned to price its 25.4 million shares on offer at HK$165 each, according to people familiar with the matter. The company would stop taking orders from... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338766/minimaxs-hong-kong-ipo-set-hit-us538-million-amid-chinese-ai-sector-frenzy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338766/minimaxs-hong-kong-ipo-set-hit-us538-million-amid-chinese-ai-sector-frenzy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:39:32 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Digital finance has moved into the mainstream as regulated stablecoins and tokenised assets scale up, but industry experts say 2026 will be defined by success in developing interoperable, regulated, use-case-driven rails rather than more digital silos. As more than 130 jurisdictions explore central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), alongside dozens of stablecoin initiatives and a growing array of tokenisation platforms, day-to-day payments and finance are undergoing a rapid structural... https://www.scmp.com/business/cryptocurrency/article/3338656/digital-finance-2026-what-expect-pilot-schemes-move-real-world-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/cryptocurrency/article/3338656/digital-finance-2026-what-expect-pilot-schemes-move-real-world-use?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:30:15 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang More Chinese and local issuers could tap Dubai to list debt and equity securities, signalling confidence in the Chinese economy and the deepening economic corridor between China and the Middle East, according to the CEO of Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The momentum would build on Emirates NBD Bank’s recent offshore yuan bond of 1 billion yuan (US$143 million), listed on Nasdaq Dubai, marking the lender’s return to the dim sum bond market and enabling global investors to access... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338120/more-issuers-turn-dubai-listings-yuan-bonds-gain-traction-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338120/more-issuers-turn-dubai-listings-yuan-bonds-gain-traction-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Shares of Shanghai Biren Technology jumped 82.1 per cent upon their debut on Friday in Hong Kong’s first listing of the year, as investors piled into the Chinese graphics processing unit (GPU) maker amid the artificial intelligence wave. The first of China’s up-and-coming GPU developers to list in Hong Kong, the company’s shares first changed hands at HK$35.70, up from the initial public offering (IPO) price of HK$19.60. The stock later more than doubled to HK$42.88 before ending the day 75.8... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338447/biren-shares-soar-hong-kong-investors-seize-chinas-first-gpu-start-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338447/biren-shares-soar-hong-kong-investors-seize-chinas-first-gpu-start-list?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:40:22 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang China’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market is poised for another year of growth as investors regain confidence in the country’s assets and long-term growth prospects, and look beyond geopolitical and economic headwinds, according to industry experts. Investor optimism in 2026 would build on a deeper understanding of risks associated with regulatory restrictions, improved market conditions and success stories in the past year, said Kevin Yu Zhe, Shanghai-based partner at Zhong Lun Law... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338262/chinas-ma-market-poised-2026-expansion-investors-regain-confidence-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338262/chinas-ma-market-poised-2026-expansion-investors-regain-confidence-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Six companies debuted on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, capping a year that reaffirmed the city’s dominance as the world’s top initial public offering (IPO) market and one of the best-performing benchmarks. The six debutants raised a combined HK$6.99 billion (US$899 million), adding to several sizeable deals this year. As of Tuesday, the Hong Kong IPO market raised HK$285.8 billion from 119 listings, with first-day trading showing an average share price gain of nearly 40 per cent,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338086/insilico-medicine-leads-sextet-hong-kong-ipos-capping-banner-year-fundraising?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3338086/insilico-medicine-leads-sextet-hong-kong-ipos-capping-banner-year-fundraising?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 01:40:43 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Chinese firms are increasingly anchoring themselves in Dubai’s free trade zones to navigate trade barriers and tap new markets as rising protectionism and supply-chain shifts impact global commerce. Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), state-owned DP World’s flagship free economic zone at the western end of the city in the United Arab Emirates, hosted 507 Chinese companies as of November, nearly double the number in 2021. The trend reflected how a Middle Eastern hub offered companies “neutral, stable... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3337928/chinese-firms-anchor-dubai-free-zones-navigate-trade-barriers-and-expand-reach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3337928/chinese-firms-anchor-dubai-free-zones-navigate-trade-barriers-and-expand-reach?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong is emerging as a neutral hub bridging the technological strengths of East and West while leveraging its robust education and financial systems to drive the next wave of artificial intelligence transformation in businesses, according to PwC executives. As companies worldwide pushed to move AI from isolated experiments to capabilities deployed at scale, not just to solve problems but to unlock new revenue opportunities, Hong Kong was “well‑positioned” to harness the technology’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3337571/hong-kong-emerging-worlds-ai-crossroads-between-east-and-west-pwc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3337571/hong-kong-emerging-worlds-ai-crossroads-between-east-and-west-pwc?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 06:30:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Shanghai Biren Technology has started bookbuilding for its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO), aiming to raise up to HK$4.85 billion (US$624 million), as Chinese chipmakers rush to list amid rising investor interest. Biren, the mainland’s first graphics processing unit (GPU) developer to go public in Hong Kong, will start trading on January 2 – becoming the first new listing of 2026. The firm was offering 247.7 million shares between HK$17 and HK$19.60 each, according to its exchange filing... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3337272/chinese-ai-chipmaker-biren-kicks-bookbuilding-us624-million-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3337272/chinese-ai-chipmaker-biren-kicks-bookbuilding-us624-million-hong-kong-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 04:29:32 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The Hong Kong stock exchange has proposed standardising board lot sizes, reducing the number of trading units from more than 40 to eight options in a bid to boost market efficiency and liquidity. Bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) was proposing to limit the choices listed companies make regarding their trading unit size, or board lot, from one share to a maximum of 10,000 shares, according to a consultation paper published on Thursday. The options in between are: 50, 100,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336940/hkex-proposes-slashing-board-lot-variations-boost-liquidity-enhance-market-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336940/hkex-proposes-slashing-board-lot-variations-boost-liquidity-enhance-market-efficiency?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:30:07 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has amended its post-listing public float rules to give companies greater flexibility in managing capital while strengthening market transparency. The bourse operator will allow listed companies to meet an alternative ongoing public float threshold, requiring at least 10 per cent of issued shares in the listed class and a market value above HK$1 billion (US$128.5 million). For mainland China-listed firms, or A shares, their Hong Kong shares must represent... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3336813/hong-kong-exchange-amends-float-rules-strengthen-citys-status-global-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3336813/hong-kong-exchange-amends-float-rules-strengthen-citys-status-global-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:15:31 +0000 Zhu Wenqian,Aileen Chuang Zhu Wenqian,Aileen Chuang Distressed mainland developer China Vanke has unveiled a revised bond extension proposal, seeking approval from creditors after its initial three payment extension bids were rejected, a development that has fuelled concerns about the crisis-hit property sector. Holders of the 2 billion yuan (US$366 million) bond – which matured on Monday – would vote on the revised plan from Thursday to Monday, according to a filing to the Shanghai Clearing House on Tuesday. The proposal needs to secure the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336719/china-vanke-unveils-fresh-proposal-extend-us366-million-bond-after-3-failed-bids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336719/china-vanke-unveils-fresh-proposal-extend-us366-million-bond-after-3-failed-bids?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:16:58 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Shares of HashKey Holdings, operator of Hong Kong’s largest licensed cryptocurrency exchange, were flat on their trading debut, as investors shunned risk amid a downturn in the digital asset market. Trading under the stock code 3887, HashKey shares first changed hands on Wednesday at HK$6.70, or 0.3 per cent above the offer price of HK$6.68 a share. The stock fluctuated between gains of up to 6.6 per cent and losses of as much as 8.4 per cent before closing 0.2 per cent lower at HK$6.67. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336692/hashkeys-lukewarm-debut-tests-hong-kongs-ambitions-digital-asset-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336692/hashkeys-lukewarm-debut-tests-hong-kongs-ambitions-digital-asset-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 01:41:22 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong has signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Norway, marking its fourth such pact this year as the city steps up efforts to strengthen its appeal as an international business and investment hub. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu signed the agreement with the Government of the Kingdom of Norway in Beijing on Tuesday. Hui had visited Norway to discuss the matter in June. Under the agreement, Hong Kong residents who... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336653/hong-kong-signs-tax-treaty-norway-marking-fourth-such-agreement-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336653/hong-kong-signs-tax-treaty-norway-marking-fourth-such-agreement-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:47:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Chinese artificial intelligence start-up MiniMax plans to channel funds from its proposed Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) into research and development as it seeks to compete with global and domestic rivals, according to a person familiar with the matter. With 70 per cent of its revenue generated overseas, MiniMax was targeting Hong Kong’s international investor base and capital market, the person said. The Shanghai-based firm, backed by Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings, was... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336146/chinas-generative-ai-tiger-minimax-pursues-hong-kong-ipo-expand-global-reach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336146/chinas-generative-ai-tiger-minimax-pursues-hong-kong-ipo-expand-global-reach?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:06:44 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Ant International, HSBC and Swift have successfully tested cross-border transfers of tokenised deposits using an international financial messaging standard, in a move that could streamline global blockchain-based payments and corporate treasury management. The milestone, announced on Thursday, marked the first case leveraging the Swift network and ISO 20022 as a messaging standard in cross-border payments using tokenised deposits. The standard is a universal language for exchanging electronic... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336068/swift-pilots-blockchain-payments-ant-international-and-hsbc-cross-border-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3336068/swift-pilots-blockchain-payments-ant-international-and-hsbc-cross-border-test?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:00:22 +0000 Themis Qi,Aileen Chuang Themis Qi,Aileen Chuang Hong Kong’s initial public offering (IPO) market is expected to raise up to HK$350 billion (US$45 billion) next year, extending the momentum built this year on the back of mainland Chinese public firms and the technology sector. KPMG forecast on Wednesday that between 180 and 200 applications would drive the fundraising, representing a 28.7 per cent jump in total value and as much as a 100 per cent leap in deal numbers compared with this year. “We also expect 2026 to be a pivotal year for... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3335887/hong-kongs-ipo-juggernaut-projected-raise-us45-billion-2026-kpmg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3335887/hong-kongs-ipo-juggernaut-projected-raise-us45-billion-2026-kpmg?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:30:35 +0000