Group 1: Hong Kong Monetary Authority Actions - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) intervened twice in the market, selling a total of 127.88 billion HKD (approximately 16.50 billion USD) to maintain the Hong Kong dollar's peg to the US dollar, following an earlier sale of 605.43 billion HKD (approximately 78.12 billion USD) [1] - HKMA President Yu Weiwen noted that the demand for the Hong Kong dollar is rising, primarily driven by stock-related needs, and there are no signs of abnormal activity in the currency [1] - The HKMA has reduced the duration of its holdings in US Treasury bonds and is diversifying its investments into non-US assets to manage risks [1] Group 2: Financial Market Trends - The US stock market saw declines, with the Dow Jones falling by 389.83 points (0.95%) to 40,829.00 points, and the Nasdaq dropping by 154.58 points (0.87%) to 17,689.66 points [2] - Spot gold prices rose above 3,400 USD for the first time in two weeks, influenced by geopolitical tensions between Pakistan and India [2] - Crude oil futures for June delivery increased by 1.96 USD, closing at 59.09 USD per barrel, marking a rise of 3.43% [2] Group 3: Financial Policy Announcements - The State Council of China will hold a press conference to introduce a package of financial policies aimed at stabilizing the market and expectations [3] Group 4: Hong Kong Stock Exchange Initiatives - The Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Securities and Futures Commission have launched a "Special Line for Science and Technology Enterprises" to facilitate the listing process for technology and biotech companies, allowing them to submit applications confidentially [4] Group 5: Trade Relations and Tariffs - The European Union plans to impose additional tariffs on approximately 1 trillion EUR worth of US goods if ongoing trade negotiations do not yield satisfactory results [5] Group 6: Postal and Delivery Industry Performance - During the "May Day" holiday, China's postal and express delivery industry handled over 4.8 billion packages, reflecting a year-on-year growth of over 20%, marking a historical high for the same period [6][7] Group 7: Aviation Industry Insights - During the "May Day" holiday, domestic flight operations exceeded 68,000 flights, with a year-on-year increase of about 3%, while international flights saw a 12% increase [8] Group 8: Cross-Border Travel Statistics - The Gongbei border checkpoint reported a record average daily passenger flow of nearly 380,000 during the "May Day" holiday, with a total of nearly 1.9 million travelers, a year-on-year increase of 21.5% [9] Group 9: Restaurant Industry Performance - Haidilao restaurants experienced high customer traffic during the "May Day" holiday, with some locations achieving a table turnover rate exceeding 12 times [10] Group 10: Corporate Acquisitions - Zhongchuang Innovation plans to invest nearly 1.2 billion RMB to acquire a 22.61% stake in Suao Sensor, indicating strategic expansion in the sensor technology sector [11] Group 11: Robotics Industry Developments - Yujian and others have become shareholders in Zhongke Fifth Epoch, a company involved in the development of intelligent robotics and AI applications [12] Group 12: Hydrogen Energy Sector Expansion - Beijing Tianhai Hydrogen Energy Equipment Co., a subsidiary of Jingcheng Electromechanical, plans to raise capital through equity expansion to enhance market competitiveness [13] Group 13: Pharmaceutical Innovations - Yuanda Pharmaceutical's global innovative product STC3141 has successfully reached clinical endpoints in a Phase II trial for treating sepsis in China, marking significant progress in critical care research [14] Group 14: Obesity Treatment Research - Gilead Sciences will present research results on its obesity candidate drug ASC47 at the European Obesity Congress, highlighting advancements in obesity treatment [15]

Core Viewpoint - Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) demonstrated strong performance in 2024, achieving record highs in revenue and profit despite macroeconomic challenges, driven by global investor interest in Chinese opportunities [2][6][18]. Financial Performance - HKEX reported total revenue and other income of HKD 22.4 billion, a 9% increase from 2023, leading to a record profit attributable to shareholders of HKD 13.1 billion, up 10% year-on-year [7]. - The exchange experienced record trading activities across various markets, including spot, derivatives, and exchange-traded products (ETPs), particularly following the announcement of economic stimulus measures in mainland China [7][8]. Market Dynamics - The stock spot market achieved a record trading amount of HKD 620.7 billion on October 8, 2024, with all markets reaching new daily trading volume highs in Q3 and Q4 [8]. - The average daily trading amount for the Northbound and Southbound Stock Connect reached RMB 150.1 billion and HKD 48.2 billion, respectively, contributing HKD 2.7 billion in revenue [9]. - The ETP market saw an average daily trading amount of HKD 18.9 billion, a 35% increase from the previous year [10]. New Listings and Capital Raising - In 2024, HKEX ranked among the top four global IPO markets, with 71 companies listed and total fundraising of HKD 88 billion, a 90% increase from 2023 [13]. - The second half of 2024 was particularly active, with 41 companies listed, raising HKD 74.6 billion, over five times the amount raised in the first half [13]. - Notable listings included Midea Group, which raised HKD 35.7 billion, marking the largest IPO in Hong Kong since February 2021 [13]. Strategic Initiatives - HKEX is preparing to launch a "Tech Company Fast Track" to facilitate the listing process for technology and biotech firms, addressing concerns about compliance with listing rules [4][5]. - The exchange aims to enhance its attractiveness as a listing venue for both mainland and international companies, continuously improving the listing environment and introducing new rules [4][15]. Future Outlook - The CEO of HKEX expressed optimism for 2025, citing potential economic recovery signals and the impact of stimulus policies in mainland China, which could invigorate the IPO and secondary markets [18].