Core Insights - The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is set to advance key initiatives in the next six months to promote the development of the fixed income and currency markets in Hong Kong [1][5] - The global economic growth model is changing, with a shift from beta to alpha returns, leading to increased interest in actively managed funds and alternative assets [1][9] - The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) are collaborating to enhance the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect mechanism, aiming to improve the competitiveness and influence of both financial centers [1][12][16] Group 1: Fixed Income and Currency Market Development - The SFC's focus includes promoting issuance through government bonds, expanding the investor base, and enhancing liquidity in the fixed income market [1][3][5] - Collective investment schemes have reached a record trading volume of 22.4 trillion HKD, with a 76% increase, and the proportion of money market funds is expected to rise from 76% in 2023 to 80% in 2024 [3][5] - The SFC identified four pillars for the fixed income and currency market: promoting issuance, increasing liquidity, expanding offshore RMB business, and new generation infrastructure [5][7] Group 2: Global Economic Trends and Investment Strategies - The global debt levels are unsustainable, leading to a redefinition of traditional safe assets, with gold and Bitcoin prices rising due to concerns over fiat currency purchasing power [9][11] - Geopolitical risks have become the primary concern for sovereign wealth funds, surpassing inflation as the main focus for investors [11] - The shift in global economic growth from expansion to rebalancing emphasizes the importance of technology competition, particularly in artificial intelligence [11] Group 3: Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect - The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect has evolved since its inception, with significant enhancements such as the removal of total quota limits and the inclusion of various stock types [12][15] - As of September 2025, the cumulative trading volume through the Stock Connect reached 90.1 trillion CNY for northbound trading and 37.5 trillion CNY for southbound trading [15][16] - The SSE aims to continue optimizing the Stock Connect mechanism to facilitate cross-border investment and enhance market collaboration [12][16]

Core Insights - The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority reported record sales and market participation in non-exchange traded investment products for 2024, with total trading volume reaching 60,730 billion HKD, a 40% increase year-on-year [1][2]. Sales Performance - All major investment product categories experienced significant sales growth, with collective investment schemes, structured products, and debt securities increasing by 9,660 billion HKD (76%), 5,870 billion HKD (30%), and 2,130 billion HKD (29%) respectively [2]. - Stock-linked products were the best-selling structured product type, achieving sales of 17,290 billion HKD, a 43% increase, and accounting for 67% of total structured product sales in 2024, up from 61% in 2023 [2]. Investor Sentiment - Companies reported a generally optimistic investor sentiment compared to the previous year, driven by favorable factors such as positive views on mainland policies and reduced concerns about the global economic outlook [2]. - Despite geopolitical tensions and market adjustment concerns, collective investment schemes and debt securities remained attractive to investors, particularly in a high-interest environment [2]. Online Sales Growth - The number of companies utilizing online sales channels increased to 104, with online sales accounting for 17% of total trading volume, up from 5% in 2020 [4]. - Collective investment schemes dominated online sales, making up 77% of online sales, with 78% of investors using online platforms for transactions, an increase from 74% in 2023 [6]. Industry Expansion - The number of companies engaged in investment product sales rose by 9% to a record high of 414, with large companies increasing by 12% to 101 [7]. - Over 19,000 personnel were involved in distributing investment products, marking a 4% increase, while the number of clients completing at least one transaction grew by 28% to over 1.2 million [7].