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Stocks

Stocks
Stock market action from around the world, with a focus on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia.
A man passes a screen in Tokyo showing Japan’s 10-year bond level after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Bank of Japan’s historic rate increase signals new era for economy

Bank of Japan lifts rates to 0.75 per cent – a 30-year high – ending zero-interest era, paving the way for further increases amid rising inflation.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks cap longest win streak in 3 weeks as US inflation cools

HKEX

HKEX proposes slashing board lot variations to boost liquidity

Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Fears of an AI bubble in Asian stock markets are misplaced

The concentration risk so prevalent elsewhere is mitigated in Asia by a diverse equity landscape and the unique strengths in China.

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An employee debugs the AI-powered live-streaming machines at a Rexso workshop on December 8 in Huangshan in China’s Anhui province. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
IPO

Holiday rush: Hong Kong IPO market sparkles with busiest December in years

From biotech to AI, December’s listings – including at least 15 down the stretch – crown the city’s revival in equity fundraising.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks tread water as tech giants stumble on AI bubble jitters

Hang Seng Tech Index slides after US equities slump, while investors await inflation report.

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks rebound as investors reassess US rate-cut outlook

Hang Seng Index swings as odds of a US Federal Reserve rate cut in January now stand at nearly 26 per cent.

The Hong Kong Exchange Square building. Photo: Getty
MetaX

MetaX stock soars 700% in Shanghai debut as traders snap up Chinese GPU maker

MetaX closes at 829.90 yuan on Wednesday, from its IPO price of 104.66 yuan, after gaining as much as 755 per cent in intraday trading.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks slump to 3-week low as China growth jitters dampen sentiment

Caution prevails as investors weigh China’s growth prospects after key economic data showed a deceleration across the board.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks slide after China data shows growth running out of steam

China’s November retail sales miss estimates, while falling housing prices show no signs of slowing down.

China’s retail sales growth slumped in November, missing forecasts and highlighting prolonged challenges in the world’s second-largest economy. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

Macroscope | As global spending needs grow and debt rises, business as usual won’t suffice

The increase in government debt means that nations must look elsewhere for funds required to meet socioeconomic needs.

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People walk near screens showing stock exchange and economic data in Shanghai, on April 14. Photo: EPA-EFE
China stock market

‘China’s little Nvidia’ warns of overheating risks after 723% share surge

Moore Threads shares drop 13 per cent on Friday after the GPU maker cautions investors to ‘make decisions prudently and invest rationally’.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks advance as traders position for additional growth measures

Investors anticipate further easing on monetary, fiscal and property fronts after Beijing vowed to strengthen domestic market.

China stock market

Look beyond AI ‘titans’ for growth stocks, BofA Securities says

Investors should shift focus to AI-driven sectors with more rising stars, under-covered companies and pair-trading opportunities.

Sectors with relatively high profitability include semiconductor equipment, printed circuit boards, optical modules, and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing, according to BofA Securities. Photo: Shutterstock
Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin drops below US$90,000 as AI worries sour risk appetite

The fall signals renewed market jitters after the historic crypto crash in October.

Standard Chartered slashes expectations that bitcoin would hit US$200,000 by the end of 2025, lowering its forecast to US$100,000. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks end flat as traders await policy signals from China conference

Investors look to CEWC for growth target, property sector stabilisation and measures to boost domestic demand.

United States

US Fed delivers quarter-point rate cut as policymakers weigh inflation outlook

Move falls short of Trump’s demands as debate over Fed independence intensifies and markets brace for global spillover effects.

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IPO

Hong Kong’s IPO juggernaut projected to raise up to US$45 billion in 2026: KPMG

It will be a pivotal year for hi-tech listings, which will help cement Hong Kong’s place at the top of global markets, auditing firm says.

Hong Kong’s IPO market is projected to extend the momentum it built this year driven by mainland Chinese public firms and the tech sector. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks end higher as China stimulus hopes spark property rally

Market sentiment buoyed by China homebuyer loan support talk and Vanke debt progress.

China stock market

Investors brace as Beijing’s policy huddle tests China’s stock rebound

With China’s stock rally fading, markets are pinning their hopes on the Central Economic Work Conference for signs of clearer policy support.

China stock market

China, Hong Kong stocks set to gain nearly 20% in 2026, JPMorgan says

HSBC Private Bank sets a target of 31,000 for the Hang Seng Index next year, representing a 22 per cent gain from Tuesday’s close.

A child poses next to a bull sculpture in Shanghai on April 9, 2025. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng among top 10 ‘people who shaped science in 2025’

British journal Nature’s top 10 list gives credit to the man behind the widely acclaimed, Chinese-developed R1 reasoning AI model.

DeepSeek founder and CEO Liang Wenfeng. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks extend losses amid rate-cut caution, muted China policy outlook

Global banks cite lack of urgency in policy signals; Wall Street retreat adds pressure on sentiment.

Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF)

Hong Kong’s MPF marks 25 years with strong returns, ‘growing public confidence’

Doubling of voluntary contributions reflects retirement scheme’s importance to local residents, MPFA chairwoman says.

Artificial intelligence

China AI chipmaker MetaX draws more IPO investors than Moore Threads

More than 5 million investors vied for allotments in the chipmaker’s share offering, which aims to raise US$594 million.

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Founded in 2020, MetaX is viewed as one of China’s best hopes to develop chips that can rival Nvidia’s high-performance AI processors. Photo: Handout
China stock market

New China guidelines to base asset managers’ pay on the performance of funds

The China Securities Regulatory Commission seeks a performance-based salary mechanism at the country’s 160 mutual fund houses.

A view of the China Securities Regulatory Commission’s headquarters in downtown Beijing, Photo: Simon Song
Banking & finance

China’s CSRC pushes brokerages to build global banks and back tech self-reliance

Securities companies should redouble efforts to help turn China into a global financial powerhouse, says CSRC chairman Wu Qing.

American Samoa

L&G Asset Management sees AI equity upside despite US$3 trillion debt concerns

‘We are defensive in terms of allocating to that particular sector,’ says Ben Bennett, L&G’s head of investment strategy in Asia.

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