SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China opened its stock option market to foreign investors on Tuesday, as Beijing steps up efforts to increase the appeal of yuan assets. The announcement by the Shanghai Stock Exchange comes on the heels of measures to lure global investors into China's bond market, and promote international use of the Chinese yuan. The Shanghai bourse said qualified foreign institutional investors will be allowed to trade options for hedging purposes, and can submit applications immediately. An eq ...

Funds raised from new share sales in Hong Kong jumped 220 per cent in the first nine months of 2025, strengthening the local stock exchange's grip on the top spot in the global rankings, while analysts predicted that the initial public offering (IPO) market would continue to pop well into next year. A total of 66 companies raised US$23.27 billion on the main board of the Hong Kong stock exchange during the first nine months, according to data released on Tuesday by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). ...

The Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) has slipped below the 4,300 mark, after spending most of September above this level.When volatility strikes, an income investor can look to defensive stocks that have stable earnings and dividends.Here are three defensive Singapore blue-chips you can consider, namely Singapore Exchange or SGX, Singapore Technologies Engineering or STE, and Singapore Telecommunications or Singtel.Singapore Exchange (SGX: S68) SGX is Singapore’s sole stock exchange operator. The group enjoy ...

Group 1: Financial Hub Rankings - Hong Kong maintained its position as the world's third-ranked financial hub, narrowing the gap with New York and London, with an overall rating increase of 4 points [1][3] - The latest GFCI report indicates that only one rating point separates the top four financial centres, with Hong Kong being 1 point below London and 2 points behind New York [3] - Singapore rose 13 points to rank fourth, just 1 point below Hong Kong [2] Group 2: IPO Market Performance - Funds raised via initial public offerings (IPOs) in Hong Kong increased eightfold in the first six months of 2025, making the city the top global exchange for IPOs for the first time since 2019 [4] - Deloitte projected Hong Kong to record 66 IPOs and raise up to HK$182.3 billion in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a 47% increase in the number of IPOs and a 228% surge in proceeds compared to the same period in 2023 [6] - The Hong Kong stock exchange is expected to retain its position as the global leader in IPO fundraising in the third quarter, driven by six mega IPOs [5] Group 3: GFCI Assessment Criteria - The GFCI's assessment is based on five areas: business environment, human capital, infrastructure, financial sector development, and reputation and general overview [7]

Core Insights - Nasdaq reported an increase in short interest across its listed securities as of the mid-September settlement date compared to August 29 [2] Summary by Category - **Short Interest Data** - Short interest in 5,014 securities totaled 17,146,159,646 shares at the September 15 settlement date [2] - This represents an increase from 4,988 issues and 16,958,657,192 shares reported previously [2]

Core Viewpoint - Saudi Arabia's stock market experienced its largest daily increase since 2020, driven by expectations that the market regulator may relax foreign ownership limits on listed companies, potentially revitalizing interest in the stock exchange [1][4]. Group 1: Market Reaction - The Saudi benchmark index surged over 5%, reaching its highest level since May, following reports of potential regulatory changes [1]. - The index has seen a year-to-date decline of 9.6%, underperforming regional markets such as Dubai and Kuwait, which are up 13.8% and 20% respectively [3]. Group 2: Potential Inflows - If the foreign ownership cap is lifted to 100%, it could attract an additional $9.5 billion to $10 billion in passive inflows from MSCI and FTSE index trackers, according to UBS projections [2]. - The easing of foreign ownership rules is expected to enhance the weight of Saudi public companies in major indexes, thereby increasing foreign investment [4]. Group 3: Market Liquidity and Participation - The anticipated regulatory changes are expected to strengthen liquidity and depth in the Saudi market, tighten bid-ask spreads, and expand institutional participation [5]. - Saudi Arabia has been actively working to attract foreign investors through various initiatives, including establishing exchange-traded funds with partners in Asia [5]. Group 4: Broader Regulatory Context - In January, regulators allowed foreigners to purchase shares in companies owning real estate in Mecca and Medina, while maintaining restrictions on direct land ownership [6].

Group 1 - Nasdaq announced the delisting of certain securities that were previously suspended from trading on its platform [2] - The specific securities listed for delisting include Digital Brands Group (DBGI) warrants, which were suspended on December 18, 2024 [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) must implement foundational changes in governance, culture, and risk management following a trading settlement failure, as emphasized by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) [1][2][3] Group 1: Regulatory Oversight - The RBA has stated that ASX's clearing and settlement units do not meet key regulatory standards and will closely monitor improvements [1][2] - The RBA indicated that further regulatory responses will be considered if ASX fails to enhance its operations [2] Group 2: Operational Performance - ASX is currently not meeting the expectations of regulators for a critical national infrastructure operator, highlighting the need for resilient and secure clearing and settlement facilities [3] - The average daily cash market trading value for ASX in the past financial year was A$6.1 billion (approximately $4.04 billion) [4] Group 3: Recent Incidents and Responses - ASX faced criticism after deferring a day's worth of trading settlements due to a breakdown in its Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (CHESS) [5] - ASX's Chief Executive acknowledged the need to rebuild trust with regulators and mentioned ongoing efforts to improve contingency arrangements for CHESS [5][6]

Group 1 - The Nasdaq has announced new rule changes for small China-based companies seeking to go public in the United States [1] - These changes will require China-based companies to meet specific criteria before listing on the Nasdaq [1] - The implementation of these rules is expected to impact the number of Chinese companies pursuing U.S. listings [1]

Core Viewpoint - Euronext has successfully completed a share repurchase program, acquiring 101,000 shares at an average price of €137.75 as part of its Long-Term Incentive plan [1][2]. Group 1: Share Repurchase Program - The share repurchase program was executed by an independent agent from September 4 to September 19, 2025, in accordance with the authorization granted by Euronext's General Meeting of Shareholders on May 15, 2025 [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Euronext operates as a leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, including listing, trading, clearing, settlement, and custody [3]. - As of June 2025, Euronext's regulated exchanges host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with a total market capitalization of €6.3 trillion, making it a significant player in debt and fund listings globally [4]. - Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading and offers a diverse range of products, including equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities, and indices [4].