HKEX Becomes Strategic Shareholder in CMU OmniClear to Boost Hong Kong's Capital Market Infrastructure

HKMA introduces HKEX as strategic shareholder in CMU OmniClear Holdings Limited

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

​The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (November 12) that Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) will become a strategic shareholder of CMU OmniClear Holdings Limited (CMU OmniClear Holdings), strengthening Hong Kong's capital markets financial infrastructure and advancing the long-term development of Hong Kong's fixed income and currencies (FIC) ecosystem.

In October 2025, the Exchange Fund managed by the HKMA established CMU OmniClear Holdings with the intention to wholly own CMU OmniClear Limited (CMU OmniClear), established last year to carry out the operations and business development activities of Hong Kong's central securities depository infrastructure, the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) system, on behalf of the HKMA. To further support the sustainable and diversified growth of Hong Kong's capital markets, the HKEX is introduced as a strategic shareholder of CMU OmniClear Holdings, acquiring a 20 per cent stake through the subscription of new shares. Upon completion, the Exchange Fund and the HKEX will hold 80 per cent and 20per cent of CMU OmniClear Holdings, respectively.

Through the partnership, the HKMA and the HKEX will harness their combined resources, technology, talent, and market expertise to facilitate the development of Hong Kong's post-trade securities infrastructure into a major central securities depository (CSD) in the region. This collaboration will also support the continued commercialisation of CMU and the pursuit of business development initiatives in areas such as expansion of its investor CSD services, asset classes coverage and collateral management services, with the goal of enhancing cross-asset class efficiency in Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive of the HKMA and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CMU OmniClear Holdings,Mr Eddie Yue,said, "The strategic collaboration between the HKMA, CMU OmniClear and the HKEX marks a significant milestone in the development of Hong Kong's financial infrastructure. This partnership establishes a strong foundation for transforming CMU into a multi-asset class platform that provides investors with one-stop access to equity and debt securities while facilitating efficient two-way investment flows between the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and international markets. Together with the HKEX and CMU OmniClear, we look forward to unlocking synergies and creating many more new business opportunities, further strengthening Hong Kong's position as a leading international financial centre, global risk management centre and global offshore Renminbi (RMB) business hub."

The Chief Executive Officer at the HKEX, Ms Bonnie Y Chan,said, "We are delighted to be joining forces with the HKMA and CMU OmniClear on this journey to support the next chapter of growth in Hong Kong's FIC ecosystem. Developing our FIC capabilities sits at the core of the HKEX's strategic objectives, and this important investment reflects our commitment to building a diversified and vibrant multi-asset class product network, supporting the long-term resilience of our markets. As global investors seek more opportunities centred around our region, we look forward to working with regulators and market participants to further enhance Hong Kong's status as a global bond fundraising, risk management and offshore RMB business centre, unleashing Hong Kong's potential as a global FIC hub."

The HKMA remains the owner and system operator of CMU for the purposes of the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance. The legal relationships with CMU participants and other system linkages would remain with the HKMA.

Source: AI-found images

HKMA introduces HKEX as strategic shareholder in CMU OmniClear Holdings Limited Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Government releases weekly updates on retail price adjustments of auto-fuel

Stable energy supply is crucial to Hong Kong's economic and social operations. Public transportation, air passenger and cargo services, and electricity supply are directly related to energy supply. The situation in the Middle East is affecting global oil supply, with the impact on Asia being particularly pronounced. The top priority of the Government is to ensure the stability of Hong Kong's energy supply.

Currently, around 80 per cent of Hong Kong's oil products come from the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong has weathered several global energy crises in the past, including those triggered by the Gulf War and the Ukrainian conflict. With the advantage of having strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong has been able to maintain a stable energy supply amid energy shortages in many regions and cities around the world.

In view of the latest situation in the Middle East, the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) reiterated to local major oil companies the importance of energy for Hong Kong's economic and social operations, and urged them to ensure a stable supply of local auto-fuel. All oil companies have indicated that the supply of local auto-fuel remains at a normal level, and that they will continue to strive to maintain a stable supply.

To facilitate public monitoring of retail price adjustments for auto-fuel, the EEB will, starting from today (April 1) and on a weekly basis, release the seven-day moving average retail prices, after walk-in discounts, of unleaded petrol and diesel from local oil companies, along with the trends in international benchmark prices of refined oil products during the same period. The relevant information has been uploaded to the EEB website:www.eeb.gov.hk/en/energy/financial_monitoring.html.

Crude oil and refined oil products are different products. Therefore, changes in the international prices of crude oil (e.g. London Brent crude) may not necessarily correspond to adjustments in retail prices for auto-fuel. The EEB compares the international benchmark prices of refined oil products with retail prices for auto-fuel in these charts to facilitate the public in monitoring trends of local retail prices for auto-fuel among local oil companies, as well as international prices for refined oil products, and to assess whether these prices are moving in tandem and the extent of such changes.

While local oil companies have set pump prices for auto-fuel, they offer various discounts for actual transactions. As a result, pump prices do not reflect the actual retail prices. In addition to showing pump prices, the charts also show the retail prices, net of walk-in discounts, offered by each oil company. This allows the public to compare the average prices across different oil companies and choose the ones offering more competitive prices. Nonetheless, it should be noted that these charts do not take into account other discounts available only to specific customers, such as credit card discounts and membership card discounts from the oil companies.

The EEB will release the charts for the previous week every Wednesday afternoon. If Wednesday falls on a general holiday, the charts will be released on the next working day.

The Government will continue to closely monitor geopolitical developments, international energy price trends, and the local fuel supply situation to ensure the stability of Hong Kong's energy supply.

Source: AI-found images