Can Hong Kong absorb US$100 billion of newly tradable shares amid the global AI boom?

Hong Kong stocks have underperformed other global markets in the first half of the year, with analysts attributing this to sluggish consumer spending impacting Chinese internet platforms and an AI trade widening performance gaps. A surge in tradable shares from expired IPO lock-up periods could further strain the market, prompting the Hong Kong exchange to implement measures like lowering trading barriers for individual investors.