Carbon celebration
2022
HKEX’s Carbon Initiatives
In October 2022 HKEX launched Core Climate, Hong Kong’s international carbon marketplace, providing a platform for the effective and transparent trading of voluntary carbon credits and instruments and supporting the global transition to net-zero. The Hong Kong International Carbon Market Council, which was formed in July 2022, has supported the development of Core Climate and continues to drive Hong Kong’s growth as a world-class leading carbon hub.
ETF Inclusion Ceremony  Copy
2022
Inclusion of ETFs in Stock Connect
The inclusion of ETFs in Stock Connect signifies our ambition to enhance our ETF franchise and reinforces Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s ETF marketplace. It is also an exciting development in our Connect Programme, supporting further growth and development of both the Mainland and Hong Kong capital markets.
CorpDay2022website_web Top banner
2022
HKEX unveils vision to build the Marketplace of the Future
Our vision is to build the Marketplace of the Future, and the three strategic imperatives that support this vision are Connecting China and the World, Connecting Capital with Opportunities and Connecting Today with Tomorrow. We will work towards this vision by strengthening Hong Kong as an international financial centre, facilitating the vital two-way capital flows between East and West, delivering vibrant, diversified markets, supporting the creation of great companies and putting our clients first.
SPAC
2022
HKEX welcomes first SPAC listing
The introduction of listing rules for SPACs adds a new and attractive route for issuers to list on Hong Kong’s market, further diversifying HKEX’s listing offerings and elevating our role in fuelling the aspirations of the companies of tomorrow. HKEX’s high-quality SPAC listing framework is unique to Hong Kong--it targets SPAC listing applications from experienced and reputable SPAC Promoters seeking good quality De-SPAC Targets, ensuring investor protection while boosting the attractiveness of Hong Kong’s market.
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2021
MSCI China A 50 Connect Index Futures launches
The first A-share derivatives product provides international investors with a new and effective risk management tool to manage their portfolios of Stock Connect eligible A-shares, reflecting the increasing global reliance on Stock Connect to access Mainland China’s burgeoning equity markets.
2020
HKEX 20th Anniversary

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2020
Launch of the HKEX Sustainable & Green Exchange: Stage
Asia’s first multi-asset sustainable investment product platform, supporting fast-growing global demand for sustainable finance. HKEX STAGE will allow issuers to provide investors with more information on their sustainable investment products, promoting transparency and facilitating access.
MSCI_en
2020
HKEX partnership with MSCI
HKEX signs a major agreement with MSCI to license indexes to launch Asia and Emerging Markets Futures & Options contracts in Hong Kong.
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2020
HKEX Foundation
HKEX Foundation launches its flagship HKEX Charity Partnership Programme, initiating a $20 million commitment to support long-term projects for community causes under four key themes, namely financial literacy, social diversity and inclusion, poverty relief, and environmental sustainability.
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2020
HKEX 20th Anniversary
HKEX celebrates the 20th anniversary of its own share listing.
2019bayconnect
2019
HKEX acquires BayConnect
HKEX completes the acquisition of a majority stake in Mainland technology firm, BayConnect, formerly known as Ronghui Tongjin.
2019nextgen
2019
Client Connect begins
Client Connect was launched on 14 May, as a key component of the Next Generation Post Trade Programme.
2018
New Listing Rules

2018-Listing-Consultation-Conclusion
2018
New Listing Rules take effect for New Economy and Biotech companies
New additions to the Listing Rules take effect, welcoming new economy companies that use non-standard share structures and pre-revenue biotech companies for the first time. This most significant change to the Listing Rules in a quarter century, ensures Hong Kong continues connecting opportunities and growth.
2018-Connect-Hall
2018
HKEX Connect Hall officially opens
On-Floor Trading came to an end as trading goes electronic due to the technology advancement. The Trading Hall and Exchange Exhibition Hall are renamed Hong Kong Connect Hall and re-open as a financial market showcase and museum in February.
2017-bondconnect
2017
Bond Connect launches
Bond Connect launches as part of HKEX’s Mutual Market access programme, providing global investors with fast, convenient access to China’s interbank bond market.
2016
Shenzhen Stock Connect

2016-SZHK-Stock-Connect-Begins
2016
Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect begins
Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect starts its operations on 5 December, ushering in Mutual Market Access 2.0, giving Mainland investors access to small cap companies in Hong Kong and international investors access to innovative, new economy companies listed in Shenzhen.
London-connect
2015
HKEX signs an MOU on the development of London-Hong Kong Connect
The Hong Kong Futures Exchange, HKFE Clearing Corporation, LME and LME Clear, sign an MOU on 21 October to develop “London-Hong Kong Connect” to link HKEX Group’s commodities markets in Hong Kong and London in front of Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
2014
Stock Connect Begins

Launch-on-Shanghai-Hong-Kong-Stock-Connect
2014
Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Launches
Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, the first mutual market access programme is launched on 17 November. For the first time, investors in Shanghai and Hong Kong are able to trade listed shares in the other markets directly through their own local brokers and exchange.
2014-LME-Clear-launch
2014
LME Clear starts operations
LME Clear starts its operations on 22 September, giving LME the ability to pursue new markets, new products and new capabilities, particularly in extending the LME franchise to Asian timezones and in adding RMB capabilities.
2013-(2)
2013
OTC Clear launches
OTC Clearing Hong Kong is established by HKEX to provide clearing services for over-the-counter derivatives. OTC Clear is a 75 per cent owned subsidiary of HKEX with 12 financial institutions as Founding Shareholders. It is a key part of HKEX’s strategy to develop its fixed income and currency business, leveraging on the accelerating internationalisation of the RMB and Hong Kong’s position as the premier offshore RMB centre.
2013
2013
New HKEX Data Centre Opens
HKEX opens new Data Centre in Tseung Kwan O, further strengthening the technological foundation of HKEX’s market and marking a bold commitment to the development of Hong Kong as an international financial centre. HKEX also offers Hosting Services for the first time with the opening of the data centre.
2013-after-hours-futures-trading
2013
After-hours Futures trading rolls out
HKEX launches After-hours Futures trading on 8 April to allow investors to hedge or adjust their positions in response to market news and events in Hong Kong and overseas during most of Europe’s business hours, and the morning part of the US business day.
2012
London Metal Exchange

2012
2012
HKEX acquires LME
HKEX acquired the London Metal Exchange (LME), the world’s premier metal exchange since its foundation in 1877.
2012-CESC-launch
2012
CESC Officially Opens
China Exchanges Services Company (CSEC), a joint venture formed by HKEX, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange for the development of financial products and related services, officially commenced operations on 30 October.
2011-extended-trading-hours
2011
Trading Hours Extended
HKEX extended the trading hours for its securities and derivatives markets, aligning the opening of the Hong Kong and the Mainland markets trading session to further increase the overall competitiveness of HKEX’s markets in the region.
2010-AIA-(2)
2010
AIA Group’s IPO becomes the largest in Hong Kong’s history
AIA Group raised $159.1billion in October 2010, making it the largest IPO in Hong Kong’s market history and the third largest in the world.
2009-Free-Real-time-site
2009
HKEX starts free real-time basic Market prices website service
HKEX starts a free real-time basic Market prices website service for the free dissemination of real-time price information for all Hong Kong-traded securities.
2006
2006
ICBC First Company to Issue A and H-shares simultaneously in Shanghai and Hong Kong
ICBC is not only the largest IPO ever in 2006, but also the first simultaneous dual-listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong of A-shares and H-shares respectively. The IPO raised US$21.9 billion from dual-listing.
2006
CBBCs Debut

2006-CBBC-launch
2006
CBBCs Debut in Hong Kong
Callable Bull/Bear Contracts are listed and traded in Hong Kong for the first time.
2005
2005
CCB First State-owned Commercial Bank to List
China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB), the world’s largest IPO at that time, chooses to list in Hong Kong. The bank raised $71.6 billion through its initial public offering.
2000
HKEX Lists on the Stock Exchange

Hong-Kong-Exchanges-and-Clearing-Limited-listed
2000
HKEX Lists on the Stock Exchange
The Stock Exchange, the Futures Exchange and the HKSCC became wholly owned subsidiaries of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) on 6 March. HKEX becomes one of the first stock exchanges in the world to go public, with its own shares (stock code 388) on 27 June.
1999-Tracker-fund-listing
1999
Tracker Fund of Hong Kong becomes First ETF Listed in Hong Kong
The Tracker Fund of Hong Kong becomes the first ETF listed on the Stock Exchange, raising $33.3 billion, the largest IPO ever in Asia at the time excluding Japan.
1996
1996
Trading moves off the trading floor for the first time
Securities trading moved off the trading floor for the first time on 25 January. Terminals installed in securities brokers’ offices enable them to execute trades from their offices in addition to the Trading Hall.