-
TOPIC

Banking & finance

Related Topics:
Banking & finance
News about the global financial industry with a focus on developments in Hong Kong and China.
Photo: Google Maps
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong regains lustre as stocks rally, property picks up

A booming IPO market, lower interest rates and the return of overseas visitors are boosting Hong Kong’s economy, stock market and Exchange Fund.

Trade

Macroscope | Trump weaponises trade as globalisation becomes more fractured

Commodities

Runaway gold: why even Wall Street can’t keep up with the metal’s record ascent

videocam
Mainland China

China’s ‘gold fever’ sparks US$1 billion scandal as trading platform collapses

Chinese platform JWR faced a liquidity crisis as investors rushed to cash in on surging gold prices, leaving customers billions of yuan out of pocket.

videocam
5
Global gold prices have surged in recent months, leading many retail investors in China to pour funds into unlicensed metals trading platforms. Photo: Shutterstock
IPO

3 Chinese firms add to Hong Kong’s IPO boom with US$2 billion in fundraising

Muyuan Foods, Shenzhen Han’s and Distinct Healthcare started taking orders for their Hong Kong listings on Thursday.

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | What Hang Seng Bank’s delisting tells us about Hong Kong’s markets

The development raises the question: what happens when Hong Kong’s most enduring financial symbols outlive their origins?

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China GDP

Tale of 2 megacities: how did Beijing, Shanghai GDPs surpass 5 trillion yuan?

China’s two largest cities are outpacing national growth rates, each generating gross domestic products equal to a small European country.

videocam
People hang out at The Bund as the financial district of Pudong is seen in the background in Shanghai, China. The GDPs of Beijing and Shanghai have now exceeded 5 trillion yuan and both cities are comparable to European countries Sweden and Belgium. Photo: Reuters
Interest rates

HKMA warns of risks as Hong Kong follows Fed in keeping interest rate unchanged

Analysts see the first US rate cut in June, with a falling Hong Kong interbank rate set to bring relief to borrowers.

United States

US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, defying Trump pressure

The US president had been pushing for cuts at the central bank’s first policy gathering this year.

videocam
Indonesia

Bank Indonesia’s autonomy under scrutiny as Prabowo’s nephew joins leadership

Thomas Djiwandono’s appointment as deputy governor has made it seem ‘as if power at Bank Indonesia is inherited’, some analysts say.

Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor-elect Thomas Djiwandono (right) reacts after lawmakers approved his appointment during a plenary session at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Chinese culture

Reservations now open for new banknotes for Year of the Horse red packets

HSBC, Standard Chartered and BOC are taking bookings for the new and ‘good as new’ banknote exchange at certain branches from February 3-16.

To celebrate the Year of the Horse 2026, three Hong Kong banks will offer brand-new and “good as new” banknotes for customers to put in red packets, from February 3-16. Participating bank branches will open at 8am for the first three days of the programme. Photo: Getty Images
Commodities

Gold surges as Trump calls weak dollar ‘great’

The US president’s support for a weaker dollar has helped fuel gold’s gains this year, along with purchases by central banks and retail investors, including in China.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)

Hong Kong’s Exchange Fund reports record earnings in 2025

The Exchange Fund’s full-year earnings jumped 51 per cent to HK$331 billion (US$42 billion), from HK$218.8 billion in 2024.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Hong Kong’s US$8 billion wealth fund eyes fintech, aerospace and AI for growth

The Hong Kong Investment Corporation will use the city’s advantages amid global competition, geopolitical challenges, CEO Clara Chan says.

The Hong Kong Investment Corporation made HK$2.34 billion in investment income in 2024, according to its annual report released in December. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Fintech

China second to US in global AI finance index, with Hong Kong third as city hub

China rated the strongest country in converting AI capacity into production use, while Hong Kong trailed New York and London as finance hub.

China outperformed all countries in financial sector AI maturity, according to the Global AI Competitiveness Index. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong’s future as a financial centre looks golden

Tangible progress, including a gold trading deal with Shanghai, on display at the Asian Financial Forum shows the city is far from losing its edge.

Currencies

Trump says the US dollar can move like a yo-yo. Will Treasuries be left hanging?

With the US president levelling threats at enemies, allies and his own central bank, alternatives like gold and Chinese assets are gaining appeal.

videocam
15
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Africa

FSDC urges Hong Kong to focus on Africa-Asia financial corridor

City can unlock opportunities providing capital for companies and Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects, advisory council says.

A view of Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: Shutterstock
Gold in Hong Kong

Explainer | Why Hong Kong’s gold ambitions run through Shanghai

As Hong Kong and Shanghai deepen cooperation in the gold market, officials are hailing the agreement as ‘the dawn of a new chapter’.

Mainland China

Digital finance forum: AI, data to smooth trade-finance processes

Bankers from HSBC, Hang Seng Bank and ICBC Asia tout technology innovation to ease pain points for trade-finance clients.

AIIB

In a turbulent world, funding Asia’s critical infrastructure a ‘duty’: AIIB

New president says private capital and international cooperation essential to funding infrastructure projects across continent.

Zou Jiayi speaking at a panel during the 19th Asian Financial Forum at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on January 26. She is China’s former vice-minister of finance, and became AIIB president on January 16. Photo: SCMP
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)

China’s central bank to support doubling of yuan liquidity for Hong Kong lenders

PBOC to increase yuan facility to US$28.68 billion and issue more sovereign yuan bonds to enhance city’s role as yuan hub, official says.

Zou Lan, deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, speaks during the 19th Asian Financial Forum at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on January 26, 2026. Photo: Eugene Lee
Commodities

Gold surge has analysts eyeing new highs after US$5,100 record

Safe-haven demand spikes amid de-dollarisation fears and supply-chain tensions, as gold buyers seek stability against growing macro uncertainties.

videocam
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)

How lower US interest rates can help Hongkongers amid steady local prime rates

Most new mortgages, many corporate loans are based on interbank rates, which will continue to fall, monetary authority’s deputy chief says.

IPO

Chinese tech listings shine in Hong Kong amid Beijing’s self-reliance push

Outperformance so far this year shows the theme remains a boon for investors in a challenging environment, analysts say.

A view of Biren Technology’s listing ceremony in Hong Kong on January 2, 2026. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Mainland China

US asset manager Federated Hermes moves ahead with Hong Kong office plan

Office in city is ‘vital’ to service financial institutions ‘where they’re seeing a lot of their growth’, executive says.

A view of Central on November 14, 2025. Photo: Dickson Lee
UBS Group AG

UBS, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley boost bonus for investment bankers by 20%

Fundraising on the Hong Kong stock exchange reached US$37.22 billion last year, the highest since US$42.97 billion in 2021.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Trade finance in Hong Kong set for a competitive tech upgrade

Monetary Authority’s five-year fintech upgrade will streamline SME trade finance and help build the city’s digital trade infrastructure.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement