Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing launched artificial-intelligence and semiconductor indices on October 23, expanding its suite of self-compiled benchmarks to track China's strategic technology sectors.
The AI index tracks 40 Hong Kong-listed companies closely tied to the AI industry chain, spanning five areas: chip design, data centers, AI infrastructure, AI models, and software and physical applications. The semiconductor index covers the complementary hardware layer.
The new benchmarks give global investors a liquid, rules-based way to gain exposure to China's AI and chip narratives through Hong Kong-listed names, at a time when onshore AI-related equities have drawn heavy inflows.
Analysts say the indices reflect growing institutional recognition of AI as a structural, multi-year investment theme in China and could seed related exchange-traded products.
Source: Yicai (paraphrased and translated from Chinese financial-media reporting; reprinted for informational purposes with attribution).
