Hong Kong's home prices reversed July's decline, with the private home price index climbing 0.06 percent month on month to 320.5 in August, according to data from the Rating and Valuation Department released on Monday. On a yearly basis, the index was up nearly 11 percent. In the first eight months of this year, the index accumulated a gain of almost seven percent. By flat size, prices of small and medium-sized units were flat month on month but rose 11 percent year on year. Large units gained 0.4 percent month on month and 9.5 percent year on year. The rental index hit a fresh high, rising for the 10th consecutive month to 210.3. The month-on-month increase widened to 1.6 percent while the yearly gain stood at nearly 5.3 percent. Rents have risen about 4.9 percent in the first eight months of the year. Edited by Tony Sabine

Financial Secretary Paul Chan discussed deepening co-operation in regional infrastructure development, sustainable development and making better use of Hong Kong's strengths in financial markets and professional services during a meeting with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi in Doha on Sunday. Chan welcomed the bank's plan to set up an office in the SAR, and expressed hope for expanded co-operation in areas including catastrophe bond issuance and green finance. The financial secretary also met separately with Qatar's Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, as he promoted closer co-operation between Hong Kong and the Middle East. Chan said the region's push for economic diversification had created new opportunities for both sides, adding that Hong Kong could leverage its strengths in finance, trade, and innovation to complement Qatar's development needs. Speaking to the Qatari Businessmen Association, Chan highlighted the SAR's advantages under "One Country, Two Systems". He also introduced the development of the Northern Metropolis and the "South North Dual Engine" layout, and invited Qatari firms to invest in the city's innovation and technology industries. Chan told the business community that Hong Kong would explore mutual recognition arrangements with the Qatar Stock Exchange to facilitate dual listings by Qatari enterprises seeking to expand in China and the Asia-Pacific region. The finance chief will attend events related to the AIIB Annual Meeting on Monday before heading back to Hong Kong late on Monday evening. Edited by Tony Sabine

Profits at China's industrial firms above a designated size increased 15.7 percent year on year in the first eight months of 2026, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday. These industrial firms, with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan, saw their combined profits reach 5.27 trillion yuan. For August alone, profits ⁠rose 4.2 percent from a year earlier. Profits in computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing led gains, jumping 110 percent in the first eight months. By contrast, the wine, beverages and refined tea manufacturing industry was among the worst performers, with profits falling 34.7 percent. (Xinhua/Reuters) Edited by Tony Sabine

Hong Kong shares rose on Monday as mainland markets started the week on the backfoot on news that a bipartisan group of US lawmakers had introduced legislation to bar the federal government from equipping sensitive government systems with Chinese-made components used to transmit data in AI data centres. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened up 44 points, or 0.18 percent, at 24,554. The tech index was up 12 points, or 0.29 percent, at 4,324 while the China enterprises index rose 29 points, or 0.36 percent, to 8,195. Up north, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened down almost 10 points, or 0.26 percent, at 3,878. The Shenzhen Component Index was 51 points, or 0.38 percent, lower at 13,265 while the ChiNext was 0.65 percent down at 3,267. The mainland losses on the back of the US news saw the tech-focused Star Composite Index down nearly four percent, the SSE Star 200 index down nearly five percent and the CSI 300 Telecommunication Services Index down six percent at one stage in early trading. In Tokyo, the Nikkei opened 141 points, or 0.21 percent, higher at 66,505 and was hovering close to the breakeven point at one stage before lunch. In Seoul, the Kospi opened 23 points, or 0.33 percent, down at 7,057 and its losses widened to put the benchmark 169 points lower at one stage before noon. (Reuters/Xinhua) Edited by Tony Sabine

Three new exchange-traded funds that track cross-market indices debuted on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday, marking the first batch of such products being listed in the SAR. They are the HKEX Tech & US Tech 100 Index, the HKEX Bursa Malaysia Large Cap Index ETF, and the HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index. "This is a very important milestone in the development of our index business," the CEO of the Hong Kong Stock Exchanges and Clearing Bonnie Chan said during the listing ceremony. "These and all of today's ETF listings further drive vibrancy in our ever-growing equities, ETFs and derivatives ecosystem. They also broaden the products and tools available to investors to access opportunities across our ecosystem," Chan said. "Today's listing is a testament to the continued vitality and innovation of Hong Kong ETF's market," said Grace Chan, director of investment products at the Securities Futures Commission. "It reflects the industry's ongoing efforts to develop new investment solutions and provide investors with a broader range of investment choices to meet their diverse needs." She added that the growing breadth of ETF offerings in Hong Kong continues to reinforce the city's leading role in the ETF market. Edited by Tony Sabine