stock connect

This move makes Alibaba eligible for the SAR’s Stock Connect programmes, which will help the firm tap a larger group of Chinese investors; however, rival PDD Holdings saw its shares drop sharply on the Nasdaq this week, and JD.com has unveiled a $5bn share buyback plan.

The financial secretary wants to see greater development of the dual counter on the Stock Connect.

The move follows pledges by Chinese authorities to boost the stock market and improve investor sentiment as the domestic economy struggles.

The expansion will boost inflows to Hong Kong and mainland China stock markets, but the real game changer will be when mainland investors can invest in secondary-listed Chinese companies in Hong Kong.

A primary listing for the e-commerce company in Hong Kong would not only expand Alibaba’s investor base, but also make the tech giant’s share price a better risk barometer for domestic sentiment in China.

Companies floating shares in city expected to raise between $54.2 billion and $59.3 billion this year, with biotech listings continuing to be active.

The platform, HKEX Synapse, is aimed at adhering to mainland market’s T+0 settlement cycle and will begin testing in 2021 with pilot users for deployment targeted in first quarter of 2022.

COO Calvin Tai to be interim chief with effect from Jan. 1. Exchange operator says it has made ‘considerable progress’ in search for new CEO.

The Shanghai-London scheme expected to launch this year could help local Chinese investors turn their portfolios into more global ones with less regulatory and forex risk.