HKEX Advances Index Ecosystem with Two Tech-Focused Benchmarks

Why It Matters

The new benchmarks deepen HKEX’s cross‑border product suite, giving Mainland investors direct exposure to global tech leaders and boosting Hong Kong’s role as a tech‑focused capital hub.

Key Takeaways

• HKEX and KRX co‑launch semiconductor index linking Hong Kong and South Korea
• Tech & US Tech 100 index blends HK and Nasdaq tech firms
• ETFs on both indices licensed to five local asset managers
• Indices eligible for Southbound ETF Connect, expanding Mainland investor access
• HKEX aims to create a liquidity flywheel via broader index ecosystem

Pulse Analysis

HKEX’s latest move underscores its strategy to become a super‑connector for technology capital. By partnering with Korea Exchange, the HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index offers investors a seamless bridge between Hong Kong‑listed semiconductor players and South Korea’s industry leaders, leveraging the Stock Connect framework. This cross‑border exposure taps into the rapid growth of the global chip market, providing a diversified avenue for investors seeking to capture both regional and international semiconductor trends.

The HKEX Tech & US Tech 100 Index widens the scope further, merging Hong Kong’s home‑grown tech firms with the 100 biggest Nasdaq technology companies, including the Magnificent Seven. With a 60/40 split between Stock Connect‑eligible Hong Kong stocks and overseas listings, the index is primed for ETF creation. HKEX has already secured licensing agreements with Bosera International, Da Cheng International, E Fund HK, GF International, and Huatai‑PCG, positioning these ETFs for launch under Southbound ETF Connect, thereby granting Mainland investors direct access to a curated tech basket.

These developments signal a broader push to attract tech listings and related products to Hong Kong, reinforcing its ambition to host a vibrant, technology‑centric market ecosystem. By expanding its proprietary and co‑branded benchmark offerings, HKEX aims to generate a liquidity flywheel—stimulating demand for index‑linked products, deepening market participation, and enhancing overall market vibrancy. As investor appetite for tech exposure grows, the new indices and forthcoming ETFs could become key building blocks for diversified, risk‑adjusted portfolios across the Asia‑Pacific region.