A total of 53 companies have been listed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) so far this year, raising 157.8 billion HK dollars (around 20.16 billion U.S. dollars) and marking a year-on-year increase of 571 percent, data from the HKEX showed.
Among these companies, 48 are from the Chinese mainland, boosting the HKEX to lead the global IPO market.
"According to the HKEX, the number of companies waiting in line for IPOs has exceeded 500. The market generally expects this year to be a record-breaking year, with the number of listings exceeding 160 and total funds raised exceeding 320 billion HK dollars (around 40.86 billion U.S. dollars)," said Shen Hua, vice chairman of the Chinese Asset Management Association of Hong Kong (HKCAM).
Analysts say the IPO boom highlights two trends: first, many Chinese tech companies are leveraging Hong Kong's financial hub to access global capital; second, international investors are racing to capitalize on China's emerging productive forces.
Among the companies applying for listing, technology companies in artificial intelligence, high-end semiconductors, biomedicine and advanced manufacturing have become the absolute main force, with leading companies with market capitalizations of over 10 billion HK dollars, accounting for more than 70 percent.
"We are also pleased to see global capital begins to flow back to the Hong Kong market, especially as cornerstone investments by sovereign funds in IPOs increased from 18 percent in 2024 to nearly 40 percent now. Meanwhile, U.S. investment in A-shares and Hong Kong stocks has also reached a historic high," said Shen.
"Whether it's the booming IPO market or the increased recognition of Chinese assets by global investors, both reflect a gradual return of long-term funds--including sovereign wealth funds and pension funds--back to Hong Kong, investing real money as a vote of confidence," said Xing Ziqiang, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley.
Fifty-three companies listed on HKEX so far this year, raising over 157 bln HKD
The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s consumer price inflation eased in July, breaking a multi-month accelerating trend amid stabilizing energy prices and lower farm goods prices, statistical ministry data showed Tuesday.
The consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.8 percent in July from a year earlier, falling below 3.0 percent in three months, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.
It marked a noticeable deceleration from 3.2 percent in June, after accelerating from 2.0 percent in February to 2.2 percent in March, 2.6 percent in April and 3.1 percent in May.
Headline inflation, however, stayed above the central bank's mid-term inflation target of 2 percent for 11 straight months since September 2025.
The Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent in July, turning toward monetary tightening in about three and a half years since January 2023.
Oil products price gained 15.5 percent last month, after spiking 24.7 percent in the previous month. The price lifted overall inflation by 0.60 percentage points.
Price for gasoline and diesel jumped 12.6 percent and 21.5 percent each, while computer price shot up 25.1 percent amid soaring semiconductor price. Price for industrial products, including oil products and processed food, advanced 3.7 percent in July compared to the same month last year, slower than an expansion of 4.4 percent in the previous month.
Processed food price added 1.0 percent in July from a year earlier, faster than a growth of 0.9 percent in the previous month.
Price for agricultural, livestock and fishery products climbed 0.9 percent in July from a year earlier, after picking up 3.2 percent in June.
Agricultural products price slipped 2.2 percent last month, turning downward from an increase of 1.1 percent in the prior month. Those for livestock and fishery products swelled 4.4 percent and 3.9 percent each.
Rice price mounted 7.9 percent, but those for napa cabbage, watermelon, spinach, cucumber and zucchini retreated in double figures. Those for beef, imported beef, pork, egg and mackerel increased in single digits.
Price for electricity, natural gas and tap water was up 0.4 percent in July on a yearly basis.
City gas charge and waterworks fee added in single digits, but heating cost dipped 0.2 percent.
Services price surged 2.6 percent last month, hiking up the headline inflation by 1.46 percentage points.
Public service price rose 1.4 percent, while private service price, including eating-out costs, expanded 3.5 percent.
The eating-out expense gained 2.6 percent, and the private service price excluding the dining-out cost jumped 4.1 percent.
Affected by a spike in fuel surcharges from rising oil prices, international airfares soared 21.7 percent last month.
Housing rent, including Jeonse and monthly rent, was up 1.1 percent in July from a year earlier.
Jeonse is the country's unique contract between two households where a landlord grants two-year residential rights to a tenant, who in turn lends a certain amount of money, or a deposit, to the landlord.
The livelihood items index, which gauges prices for daily necessities, climbed 2.5 percent, while the fresh food index, which measures prices for fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables, declined 2.3 percent.
Demand-side inflationary pressure lingered. Core consumer price index, which excludes volatile agricultural and oil products, appreciated 2.5 percent last month.
The OECD-method core price, excluding volatile food and energy costs, went up 2.6 percent in the cited month.
ROK's consumer price inflation eases to 2.8 pct in July
