HKEX(HK:00388) Jin Rong Jie·2025-08-09 01:03Group 1 - Citigroup increased its stake in Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) by acquiring 225,000 shares at an average price of 417.24 HKD, totaling approximately 93.86 million HKD, raising its total holdings to 63.49 million shares, representing 5% of the company, making it the second-largest shareholder after the Hong Kong government [1] - The shareholder structure of HKEX is diverse and fragmented, with the Hong Kong government holding 5.9%, followed by JPMorgan at 3.53%. Various fund companies, including E Fund, GF Fund, and Huaxia Fund, are also among the top shareholders, with differing strategies regarding their holdings [1] - The Hong Kong stock market has seen increased trading activity this year, with net inflows from southbound funds exceeding the total for the previous year, and IPO financing returning to the top globally. Investment banks like Goldman Sachs have raised their target prices for HKEX multiple times [1] Group 2 - HKEX's profitability model relies on the growth of trading volume and transaction value, with the average daily trading amount in the Hong Kong stock market reaching 240.2 billion HKD in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 118%, marking the highest level for the same period since 2010 [2] - The average daily trading amount for the Stock Connect program reached 110.96 billion HKD, a year-on-year increase of 195%, while derivatives trading showed strong performance with a year-on-year increase of 11% in average daily trading volume [2] - Potential catalysts for HKEX's profit improvement include the surge in A+H share listings driving the IPO market, Hong Kong's strengthened position as an international financial center, and factors such as declining real interest rates stimulating stock trading, the introduction of "zero-date options," and continued inflows from southbound funds [2]