SCMP World

China is increasingly being viewed by global investors as a growth opportunity and portfolio diversifier, according to BlackRock’s global chief investment strategist Li Wei. She highlighted that Chinese assets offer exposure to different economic drivers amidst higher inflation and market volatility.

The Hong Kong stock exchange is attracting foreign companies from Asia and North America seeking international capital. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Kazakhstan's railway operator, filed for a Hong Kong listing on June 30.

Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo reported double-digit profit growth and higher revenue in mainland China amid sluggish domestic consumption and bilateral tensions. Same-store sales increased due to enhanced marketing and strong demand for summer products like easy pants and UV-protection items.

Hong Kong launched an updated RMB Business Facility with a 150% larger quota to enhance global yuan usage. The facility, managed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, allows banks to borrow yuan at lower Shanghai interbank rates.

Hong Kong’s luxury hotels have outpaced the city’s broader hospitality market since last year, with room rates exceeding 2018 levels in 2025, according to a Jones Lang LaSalle report. Average daily rates reached HK$2,169, a 1 per cent increase from pre-2019 levels.

Bruce Rockowitz identifies artificial intelligence as a growth driver for wellness, dining, and media businesses, emphasizing its role as a competitive advantage beyond mere productivity tools. He highlights AI's transition from experimentation to execution across industries.

Xiaomi, a smartphone vendor now one of Tesla’s biggest challengers in mainland China’s EV market, is developing a new SUV line called Sky Nomad with extended-range battery technology to counter domestic sales slowdown.

Small-cap IPOs in Hong Kong are underperforming as the market shifts focus to mega-deals like Zhipu AI. Five of 13 IPOs debuted below their issue prices this week, including Luxshare, a major Apple supplier, which fell over 9%.

ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China’s leading DRAM maker, set a subscription date for a US$4.3 billion Shanghai IPO on July 16, with the offering expected to be the second-largest on the Star Market. The company, based in Hefei, Anhui, will hold its initial price consultation on Monday.

Shares of Zhipu AI and Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor surged after they launched secondary placements to raise billions of Hong Kong dollars for hardware and research. Zhipu AI, trading as Knowledge Atlas Technology, saw its stock rise 9% following an accelerated bookbuild offering.

Hong Kong stocks retreated as regional tech volatility and a tech sell-off in neighboring markets dampened sentiment. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.78% while the Hang Seng Tech Index declined 0.06% despite optimism around recent IPO lock-up expirations.

Two-thirds of ultra-rich expatriates in Hong Kong plan to retire in the city due to stronger financial benefits, according to a St James’s Place survey of 450 affluent residents. The survey found 17% of respondents held Hong Kong or mainland China passports, while others were citizens of various global jurisdictions.

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Goldman Sachs forecasts a 50% increase in Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited (CATL)'s share price over the next 12 months, driven by rising demand for energy independence and growth in its battery energy storage system business.

AXA Group launched AXA Global Private in Hong Kong on 8 June to serve high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and globally mobile families across Asia. The debut included a press conference and a private gala attended by senior executives and VIP guests.

China's four major state-run banks are the largest globally in asset scale, according to a report by The Banker magazine. The report highlights that Chinese banks occupy seven of the world’s top 10 positions, reflecting Beijing’s efforts to strengthen its global financial influence.

Hong Kong’s retail leasing market faces ongoing pressure with rental rates below pre-pandemic levels. Analysts cite Beijing’s capital flight crackdown and potential US Federal Reserve rate hikes as factors adding uncertainty, while the food and beverage sector experiences closures, including operations cuts by fast-food chain Maxim’s MX.

The owners of The Peninsula hotel chain and SF Holding have received approval from Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority to establish captive insurers, supporting Hong Kong’s development as a risk management hub. The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels and SF Holding were granted licenses for their respective captive insurance ventures.

Beijing urged the Netherlands to ensure fair treatment for Chinese companies and maintain stable chip supply chains during a visit by the Dutch trade minister, as both sides navigate tech tensions with Washington and seek resolution over Nexperia.

Chinese investors withdrew a record $2.91 billion from domestic gold ETFs in June, driven by a stock-market surge and a strong yuan reducing gold's appeal. The World Gold Council attributed the outflows to improved risk appetite, with investors shifting to higher-risk, higher-return assets.