402 stories mentioning Hang Seng IndexUpdated just now
In focus as Hong Kong sees IPO activity, with Kaifeng Millennium City Park filing and RedNote operator Xiaohongshu reportedly preparing a listing.
SG Micro (SHE:300661) published its post-hearing information pack on the Hong Kong bourse's website as part of its H-share offering and Main Board listing process.The move followed a listing hearing on May 14, according to a Thursday filing with the Shenzhen bourse.Shenzhen shares of the integrated circuit manufacturer rose 3% in recent trade.
Hong Kong's Exchange Fund is seeking investment managers for a mandate tied to the S&P 500 Index, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.The HK$4.3 trillion fund has been reviewing proposals in recent months and is looking for a low-tracking-error strategy that closely mirrors the benchmark's performance, according to the report.Bloomberg said the mandate forms part of the fund's manager review process, with the size of any allocation yet to be determined.The Exchange Fund is managed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
Fitch Ratings on Wednesday affirmed Li & Fung's long-term credit rating at "BB" after the Hong Kong-based logistics and supply chain company announced an agreement to acquire 55% of New Advent Global for about $250 million.The ratings agency also affirmed L&F's senior unsecured rating at "BB."Fitch said the rating was supported by the company's "unique position as a leading global sourcing and trading platform."The outlook on the rating was stable, reflecting the agency's expectation the acquisition will bolster L&F's business profile.
Asian stock markets largely rallied on Wednesday amid optimism regarding artificial intelligence-related shares, following rallies in peer issues overnight on Wall Street. Concerns regarding Persian Gulf hostilities were shrugged off.Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, while Hong Kong lagged. Other regional exchanges finished higher, but with trading floors in Bangkok and Seoul closed on holiday.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 2.5% as investors again leaned into semiconductor-sector enterprises.The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1,667.89 to 68,402.13, striking a fresh apex, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 163 to 60.Leading the upside was semiconductor-manufacturing equipment maker Screen, up 17.9%, while software-quality tester Shift fell 12.2%.In economic news, Japan's composite purchasing managers index (PMI), a combination of the nation's manufacturing and services sectors, logged at 51.1 in May, down from 52.2 in April, but still notched above the 50-marker that separates growth from contraction.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and declined thereafter, finishing off 1.6% as traders mulled better investment opportunities in mainland shares or other markets. Mainland China-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that target Hong Kong-listed equities logged a record $3.69 billion in outflows last week, according to news service Bloomberg.The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 405.11 to 25,633.21, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 76 to 13. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 2.7% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 1.6%.Leading the upside was state-owned conglomerate CITIC, gaining 2.3%, while Wuxi Biologics declined 7%.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 4,083.97.In economic news, mainland China's composite purchasing managers output index registered at 54.0 in May, up from 53.1 in April, reported S&P Global/Rating Dog.On the other regional exchanges, the Taiwan TWSE inclined 2%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.7%; and the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.8%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.4%The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.6% on the day.
Hong Kong stocks retreated Wednesday as outflows from the city to mainland exchanges weighed on investor sentiment.The Hang Seng Index fell by around 405.11 points, or 1.6%, to end at 25,633.21, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index decreased by 166.38 points, or 1.9%, to close at 8,596.59.Goldman Sachs Group on Wednesday downgraded its rating on H shares to market-weight, citing the Hong Kong market's four-month underperformance against onshore peers, Bloomberg News reported.The downgrade came amid a broad sell-off from mainland investors who appeared to be investing in semiconductors and other AI-linked shares in China.Mainland-listed ETFs that invest in Hong Kong equities pulled 25 billion yuan from the city's market last week, the largest weekly outflow on record and a reversal from last year's steady inflows, according to Bloomberg data.Meanwhile, the U.S. proposed additional taxes on imports from 60 economies, including China and Hong Kong, over forced-labor trade practices, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said.The USTR has proposed a 10% additional tariff for economies that have partially enforced bans on the importation of certain forced labor goods, and a 12.5% tariff for all others, according to the release from the office.In corporate news, Chinese carbon capture firm Beijing Shougang LanzaTech Technology (HKG:2553) soared in its Hong Kong debut. The firm's shares closed at HK$21.06, 44% above the offer price of HK$14.60.
Several Asian countries could soon face additional duties on some of their exports to the U.S. following Washington's probe into imports produced using forced labor, the Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said Tuesday.The USTR said Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam are among the 54 economies that have failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced-labor import ban.The USTR proposed a 10% additional tariff for economies that have partially enforced bans on the importation of certain forced-labor goods and a 12.5% tariff for the rest.
Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission urged licensed firms to strengthen cybersecurity measures against emerging threats enabled by advanced artificial intelligence models, according to a circular issued Tuesday.The regulator warned that rapid advances in AI could enable more frequent and sophisticated cyberattacks, including phishing, social engineering, deepfake impersonation, and large-scale attacks targeting interconnected systems.The SFC called on licensed firms, particularly internet brokers and virtual asset trading platforms, to enhance safeguards for client information and assets.The regulator also urged firms to review areas including vulnerability management, threat detection, monitoring, incident response, and recovery to enhance cyber resilience.
PaXini Technology, a Chinese developer of dexterous robotic hands and humanoid robots, is weighing an initial public offering in Hong Kong, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.The BYD (HKG:1211, SHE:002594)- and JD.com (HKG:9618)-backed company is working with advisers and could submit a listing application in the coming months, according to the report.Key details, including the size and timing of the offering, are still under discussion and have yet to be finalized, Bloomberg said.PaXini raised more than 1 billion yuan in a March funding round, valuing the company at more than 10 billion yuan, the report added.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
Chinese service robot maker Pudu Robotics is preparing for a Hong Kong listing, Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday, citing founder and chief executive Felix Zhang.Speaking on the sidelines of the Beyond Expo technology exhibition in Macau, Zhang said the listing would support the company's international expansion, though he did not provide a timetable, according to the report.Zhang reportedly added that the overseas markets account for the majority of Pudu's business, with Europe and the U.S. contributing about 60% of revenue, compared with less than 20% from China.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
Most Asian business sectors expanded in May, with banking overtaking the automobile industry, according to the S&P Global Asia Sector PMI released on Wednesday.Leading the upturn for the first time in seven months, the banking sector expanded at its second-steepest rate in over five and a half years. The growth follows a previous S&P Global forecast warning that credit losses in the Asia-Pacific banking sector could surge by approximately $180 billion due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.The automobile sector, last month's top performer, slipped to second place, though its pace of growth remained historically high.Of the 18 sectors monitored, only forestry and paper products, alongside construction materials, recorded a contraction in new orders; however, these declines were softer than in the previous month. In contrast, the transportation sector posted the strongest surge in new orders, despite looming concerns over U.S.-Iran negotiations.Volatility persists in the energy and oil industries due to the precarious state of U.S.-Iran talks aimed at ending the Middle East conflict."Oil prices received a boost yesterday as talks between the US and Iran appeared to break down -- again. This has become a common pattern in recent months, and there are still plenty of mixed messages," ING'S Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey said in a Tuesday note. "As a result, oil prices continue to be whipsawed by quickly changing headlines."Operating expenses increased across all 18 sectors. S&P Global highlighted that real estate recorded a renewed rise in input prices, while the chemicals sector posted the sharpest cost inflation rate.All sectors increased their selling prices except for the consumer services sector.
Hong Kong's private sector returned to growth in May, supported by stronger export demand and a modest increase in new orders, S&P Global said Wednesday.The seasonally adjusted S&P Global Hong Kong SAR Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 50.4 in May from 48.6 in April.The reading moved back above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction and marked the first improvement in business conditions in three months.Business activity expanded modestly during the month, with construction emerging as the strongest-performing sector.New orders also returned to growth territory, supported by stronger overseas demand, while export orders recorded their fastest increase in three months.Some firms attributed higher sales to new product launches, although others continued to report weak domestic demand and intense competition.Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, attributed the return to growth to modest increases in business activity and new orders, supported by stronger overseas demand despite ongoing weakness in local market conditions.Despite the recovery in demand, employment continued to decline as firms reported sufficient capacity to handle workloads and chose not to replace departing staff.Firms also reported a deterioration in supplier performance, with some linking delivery delays to shipping disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.Cost pressures remained elevated during the month. Purchasing costs rose at the fastest pace since December 2021, driven largely by higher raw material prices, particularly fuel-related products.Many firms passed higher costs on to customers through price increases, although some offered discounts to support sales, resulting in a slower pace of output price inflation than in April.Looking ahead, firms remained pessimistic about business prospects over the next 12 months, although negative sentiment eased to a three-month low.The survey's elevated cost pressures come as Hong Kong officials expect inflation to accelerate in the coming months.Hong Kong's annual inflation rate stood at 1.7% in April, unchanged from the previous two months and the highest level since May last year.Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the Middle East conflict has so far had only a limited impact on local inflation, citing Hong Kong's service-based economy and stable energy supplies from mainland China."Rising international oil prices will continue to feed through to consumer prices and fuel-related products," Chan told lawmakers on Monday."However, as Hong Kong is a service-oriented economy with relatively low energy dependency, and with stable energy supplies from the mainland, the external impact can be mitigated," he added.The government revised its 2026 forecasts for underlying and headline inflation last month to 2.5% and 2.6%, respectively, from 1.7% and 1.8%.
Hong Kong's private sector activity expanded in May, S&P Global showed Wednesday.The latest seasonally adjusted S&P Global Hong Kong SAR Purchasing Manager's Index stood at 50.4, compared with 48.6 in the previous month.Output prices increased moderately in May, while new orders also rebounded, owing to more demand for companies' goods and services in foreign markets.
Banking sector growth was the fastest among the 18 broader Asian sectors in May, with activity expanding at the strongest pace in seven months, S&P Global said in a Wednesday release.Output growth was recorded across 16 of the 18 monitored Asian sectors last month, which was unchanged from April. Only the forestry and paper products, and construction materials sectors incurred declines from April, along with lower new orders received, S&P said.New orders rose across the remaining 16 sectors last month, led by the transportation sector.Employment increased in 10 of 18 sectors, with software & services and technology equipment experiencing the strongest hiring, while insurance witnessed a cutdown in employed staff.
Boosted by sales of autos, jewelry and watches, Hong Kong retail activity extended gains in April, reported the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) on Tuesday.Hong Kong retail sales rose 8.6% on year in April, after logging a revised 12.8% gain in March. For the first four months of the year, retail sales in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong rose 11.3% on year, added the C&SD.After adjustment for inflation, Hong Kong retail sales in April increased by 6.4% from a year earlier.The sale of jewelry, watches, clocks, and valuable gifts rose 19.8% on year in April in Hong Kong, long regarded as one of the Asia Pacific's luxury shopping meccas.Also posting strong results in April were retail sales of motor vehicles and parts, up 46.1% on year, and sales of electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified, up 21.9% on year, reported officials.Separately, the number of inbound tourists to Hong Kong in April reached 4.22 million, up 9.7% on year, recently reported the Hong Kong Tourism Board.In Hong Kong, online retail sales increased by 30.6% on year in April, and accounted for 9.7% of total sales, according to the C&SD.The expectation, at least in official quarters, was for a continuation of strong retail sales in Hong Kong."Looking ahead, the retail sector should continue to benefit from ongoing economic expansion, notable increase in inbound visitors and resilient consumption sentiment. The government will stay alert to the downside risk arising from the evolving geopolitical tensions and their possible effects on the local consumption market," said the C&SD, in a prepared statement.
Asian stock markets largely gained on Tuesday as traders shrugged off geopolitics and rallied around AI and tech shares.Hong Kong and Shanghai finished in the green, although Tokyo lagged. Other regional exchanges were mixed on the upside, with fresh all-time zeniths set on equity indices in Seoul and Taiwan.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower and could not recover, finishing off 0.3% as traders booked profits from recent record-shattering rallies.The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 200.09 to 66,734.24, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 144 to 77.Leading the upside was glassmaker AGC, up 9.1%, while Nippon Electric Glass declined 10%.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened evenly and rose to the close, concluding up 2.5% on AI-sector optimism.The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 640.14 to 26,038.32, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 60 to 30. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 4.7% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.7%.Leading the upside was WeChat operator Tencent, gaining 10.5% on reports it is testing an AI agent for its social-media platform. Laopu Gold declined 3%.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% to 4,075.10.On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.2%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.5%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 1.2%, and the Thai Set inclined 1.3%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.5%.The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.6% on the day.
Hong Kong logged an 8.6% annual growth in total retail sales value in April at HK$31.4 billion, compared with HK$34 billion in the previous month, provisional government data showed Tuesday.The Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department added that year-to-date sales from all retail outlets were up 11.3% on an annual basis.
Hong Kong stocks soared Tuesday as tech shares rallied, led by renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence.The Hang Seng Index rose by around 640.14 points, or roughly 2.5%, to end at 26,038.32, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index increased by 255. points, or around 3%, to close at 8,762.97.The Hang Seng TECH Index similarly jumped 234.36 points, or 4.7%, to 5,199.28.Markets continued to follow updates in the Middle East which is yet to see a breakthrough between the U.S. and Iran and were balancing renewed geopolitical risks against continued enthusiasm for artificial intelligence-driven growth and technology investment, Reuters reported, citing Robert Savage, head of markets macro strategy at BNY.In corporate news, Fitch Ratings affirmed Yuexiu Property's (HKG:0123) long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at BBB- and maintained a stable outlookFitch attributed the affirmation to Yuexiu Property's stable market position and positive operating cash flow, despite a decline in contracted sales amid China's property market downturn.
Asian stock markets were mixed on the upside Monday as traders weighed Persian Gulf outlooks and prospects for AI- and tech-related shares.Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the green, while Shanghai edged lower. Other regional exchanges largely gained, including fresh record highs on equity indices in Seoul and Taiwan.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly and rose to the close, finishing up 0.9% as tech shares gained.The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 604.83 to 66,934.33, another all-time high, although losing issues outnumbered gainers 154 to 70, as upsides were concentrated in tech issues.Leading gainers was tech financier SoftBank, up 14%, while chemical concern Denka declined 7.3%.In economic news, capital spending in Japan in Q1 was largely unchanged from a year earlier, reported the Ministry of Finance.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index closed up 0.9% on strength in property and tech issues.The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 215.79 to 25,378.18, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 65 to 24. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1.7% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 2.4%.Leading the upside was Laopu Gold, gaining 7.7%, while Innovent Biologics declined 2.9%.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3% to 4,057.74.On the other regional exchanges, the South Korean KOSPI rose 3.7%; the Taiwan TWSE advanced 1.3%; the Australian ASX 200 was steady, and in late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.7%. Exchanges in Singapore and Bangkok were closed on holiday.The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.9% on the day.
Hong Kong stocks closed higher Monday as investors shrugged off news of renewed tensions in the Middle East that dimmed hopes for the swift reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz.The Hang Seng Index rose by around 215.79 points, or roughly 0.9%, to end at 25,398.18, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index increased by 82.05 points, or around 1%, to close at 8,507.87.Both the U.S. and Iran said they struck each other's military sites despite agreeing last week to extend a ceasefire for two months while initiating new negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program, Reuters reported.Meanwhile, Chinese mainland investors became net sellers of Hong Kong stocks in May after selling around HK$3.6 billion of equities during the month, Bloomberg reported.The outflows represent the first time that mainland investors sold more Hong Kong stocks than they purchased since June 2023, the report said.In corporate news, MiniMax (HKG:0100) is exploring a proposed listing on the Shanghai bourse's STAR Market.The artificial intelligence firm's shares were down nearly 16% at close.
For the week ahead in Asia, manufacturing activity will be in focus as S&P Global releases a broad mix of purchasing managers' index reports covering multiple economies.The week opens with a flurry of manufacturing PMI readings for May, followed by inflation data from South Korea and Indonesia on Tuesday.Mid-week, Australia's first-quarter GDP report will take center stage, while markets will also watch a heavy batch of readouts from Vietnam.Thursday will be lighter, led by Australia's April trade report, before Friday brings India's policy rate decision and GDP figures and inflation readouts from multiple regions.Here's what to watch in the week ahead.MONDAY, June 1The week kicked off with a flurry of S&P Global's purchasing managers' index (PMI) reports covering May manufacturing activity across the region.China's manufacturing activity eased after the seasonally adjusted RatingDog China General Manufacturing PMI came in at 51.8, compared with 52.2 in the previous month and the consensus estimate of 51.4 from Investing.com.Data from the National Bureau of Statistic similarly showed factory activity easing, with the official purchasing managers' index falling to a neutral 50 from 50.3 in April.A reading above 50 means growth, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.Manufacturing activity similarly slowed in Australia as new orders fell sharply for a third consecutive month amid rising costs and ongoing supply-chain disruptions linked to the war in the Middle East.In contrast, Japan's manufacturing production expanded, with the latest S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI coming in at 54.5, compared with 55.1 in April, matching the flash data.South Korean manufacturing output also expanded during the month, hitting its highest in five years due to a rise in production and new order volumes, S&P Global said.India, Taiwan and Vietnam were also among the regions that experienced improved output during May.Meanwhile, The Philippines' manufacturing activity returned to growth in May as stronger output and a recovery in new orders offset continued weakness in exports.Moving ahead, the Melbourne Institute said its monthly inflation gauge fell in May after two consecutive monthly increases, driven largely by a decline in transport costs. The monthly cost of living also declined in May, particularly for self-funded retirees.Elsewhere, South Korea recorded a trade surplus of $26.9 billion in May, a new all-time high, and marking the third straight month of more than $20 billion in trade surplus.TUESDAY, June 2Focus shifts Tuesday to inflation data coming in from South Korea.Economists at ING said consumer prices could reach 3% year on year in May, reflecting higher input costs that are likely to be passed on to consumers.Pipeline cost pressures are also likely to reflect in Indonesia's inflation print due Tuesday, with ANZ expecting prices to tick up to 3% from 2.42% in the prior month, the Wall Street Journal reported.Trade figures due in Indonesia the same day could also show moderating exports as the effects of front-loaded demand fade and commodity prices soften, the WSJ said, citing an RHB economist.On the activity front, S&P Global releases its monthly manufacturing PMIs for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management's PMI report is also expected.Lastly, Hong Kong will release its retail sales stats for April.WEDNESDAY, June 3Australia's first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data will dominate headlines Wednesday.Both Westpac and CommBank said they expect growth to have moderated during the first three months of the year, though their estimates differed.CommBank forecast a 0.2% quarterly rise in GDP, while Westpac projected 0.5%; both would be slower than the 0.8% growth recorded in the final quarter of 2025.Neighboring New Zealand will disclose first-quarter export and import price stats.Markets will also be following a speech by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda for clues on the central bank's next interest-rate hike.Wednesday also features a heavy slate of macro data from Vietnam, including inflation, balance of trade, industrial production, and retail sales.Trading Economics expects Vietnam's May inflation to accelerate to 6% from 5.46% in April. Meanwhile, the data platform estimated the country's trade deficit could widen to $3.4 billion from $3.28 billion a month prior.Meanwhile, S&P Global will release the next batch of its PMI reports covering composite and services activity in China, India, Japan, Australia, and Hong Kong.THURSDAY, June 4Thursday will be relatively light on readouts, with Australia's April trade figures among the handful of releases of note.Australia is expected to post a trade surplus of A$2.6 billion in April, rebounding from a A$1.8 billion deficit in March - its first shortfall since late 2017, Westpac said in a preview.According to the bank, major commodity exports appeared to have increased notably during the period after recording three consecutive monthly declines.In Singapore, S&P Global's monthly PMI will be due, while Thailand will release a business confidence report.FRIDAY, June 5The tail end of the week brings a policy rate decision in India, which will also release its quarterly GDP growth figures.The Reserve Bank of India is expected to hold rates at 5.25% but could signal hawkish sentiment during its vote, the WSJ reported, citing a UOB economist.Meanwhile, a Trading Economics consensus placed the country's GDP growth rate at 7.3%, down marginally from the 7.8% recorded in the final quarter of 2025.ANZ Research said the economy stayed broadly healthy in the fiscal fourth quarter, although growth eased slightly in March as manufacturing, exports and profit margins came under pressure due to global disruptions, the WSJ reported.Taiwan is set to report monthly inflation data, with ING expecting consumer prices to rise above the 2% target for the first time since April 2025. The bank expects inflation to accelerate to 2.2% year on year in May from 1.7% in April, reflecting Taiwan's reliance on imported energy, which leaves the economy vulnerable to higher global prices."We expect inflation to peak toward the middle of this year, raising the risks for a potential central bank rate hike at the coming meetings," ING said in a preview.Thailand and the Philippines will similarly report their respective inflation rates for May, with the latter also releasing industrial production stats.Lastly, Singapore will report its retail sales figures for April.
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