Southbound Stock Connect flows surge to record US$152b driven by Hong Kong’s IPO revival

Southbound Stock Connect flows, through which mainland Chinese investors buy Hong Kong listed shares, hit a record high in the past year, reflecting strong confidence in the city’s market on the back of a booming pipeline of initial public offerings (IPO).

In the 12 months to March this year, mainland investors snapped up HK$1.19 trillion (US$151.8 billion) worth of shares in Hong Kong, according to the Securities and Futures Commission’s (SFC) annual report published on Wednesday.

Average daily turnover of southbound inflows jumped 84 per cent year on year to HK$124.1 billion, equivalent to 24 per cent of the city’s total market turnover, up from 20 per cent a year earlier, the report said.

“Global capital flows will continue to be influenced by macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, rapid technological advances including digital finance and artificial intelligence, and the transition to a more sustainable economy,” said SFC chairman Kelvin Wong Tin-yau in a statement.

“Amid emerging challenges, the SFC will stay focused on its strategic priorities to entrench Hong Kong’s irreplaceable position as the vital financial gateway bridging the mainland and the world,” Wong said.

SFC CEO Julia Leung Fung-yee said: “In this ever-changing landscape, we are more committed than ever to fostering resilience as a powerful engine to support market transformation and technological innovation.”