Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) launches Platform and Nominee Services on Integrated Fund Platform (IFP) to provide more streamlined operating framework to improve efficiency across onboarding, order processing, settlement, payments, reconciliation & reporting. Oct 30, 2026 30th October 2026 | Hong Kong Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) has launched Platform and Nominee Services on Integrated Fund Platform (IFP) to provide more streamlined operating framework to improve efficiency across onboarding, order processing, settlement, payments, reconciliation & reporting. Announcement (28/10/26): "Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is pleased to announce today (Wednesday) the launch of the Platform and Nominee Services on its Integrated Fund Platform (IFP), marking the latest milestone in the development of a more efficient, connected and scalable fund distribution ecosystem in Hong Kong. Building on the Fund Repository launched in December 2024 and the Order Routing Service in July 2025, these new services expand IFP's capabilities across the fund distribution lifecycle through master distribution and nominee and administrative services. Together, these components form an integrated, business-to-business market infrastructure connecting distributors, fund managers, transfer agents and other participants through standardised workflows and information exchange. The new services seek to address market fragmentation by providing a more streamlined operating framework, with the aim of improving efficiency across onboarding, order processing, settlement, payments, reconciliation and reporting. Since the Order Routing Service launch, when IFP welcomed an initial cohort of 33 participants, its participant base has grown to over 60 distributors, fund houses and transfer agents. A full list of participating industry stakeholders is available on the HKEX website and updated regularly. Developed in close collaboration with the HKSAR Government, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and industry stakeholders, IFP supports Hong Kong's efforts to strengthen its fund distribution ecosystem and enhance its competitiveness as a regional and global wealth management hub." Note - The Integrated Fund Platform Limited is licensed by the SFC (CE No. BVK386) to carry out Type 1 regulated activity, and is a member of the HKEX Group. "Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) launches Platform and Nominee Services on Integrated Fund Platform (IFP) to provide more streamlined operating framework to improve efficiency across onboarding, order processing, settlement, payments, reconciliation & reporting"

London Metal Exchange explores metal tokenization in Hong Kong. Oct 29, 2026 at 08:25 AM GMT+1 The London Metal Exchange (LME) has begun exploring plans to tokenize metal stored in its Hong Kong warehouses, potentially allowing businesses to use digital representations of physical inventories as collateral for financing. * The London Metal Exchange is exploring tokenization of off-warrant metals held in Hong Kong warehouses. * Proposed digital representations could allow businesses to secure loans using physical metal inventories. * HKEX is targeting a 2027 pilot for tokenized warehouse-receipt financing with designated banks. * Hong Kong's commodity strategy includes new warehousing capacity, tax incentives and blockchain-based collateral management. * HKEX is developing a multi-asset tokenization platform incorporating carbon credits and commodity warehouse receipts. In an October 28 report, Reuters cited three people familiar with the discussions who linked the initiative to Hong Kong's plans to become an international commodities trading center. The proposal would cover metal held outside the exchange's warrant system, giving traders another route to obtain funding against their inventories. LME officials confirmed that discussions were underway but described the project as exploratory. The exchange has scheduled a private industry roundtable for early November, where stakeholders are expected to examine the proposed financing arrangements. LME targets off-warrant metals for tokenization. A central part of the proposal concerns off-warrant metal, which refers to inventory held in approved warehouses without an active LME warrant. Unlike warranted metal, it lacks a standardized financing arrangement through the exchange's existing system. Warrants function as title documents covering specific quantities of metal and can already support trading or secured borrowing. Under the proposed arrangement, digital tokens would represent eligible off-warrant inventory, allowing businesses to pledge those assets when seeking loans. Responding to questions about the initiative, the LME acknowledged that it was examining tokenization to support financing and would consult industry participants before settling on an approach. Chief Executive Matt Chamberlain had previously discussed the technology during LME Week Asia in May. Although the exchange has now outlined the type of inventory it wants to address, the proposed framework remains under development. The LME has required warehouses to report off-warrant inventories since 2020, a measure introduced to provide additional information about available industrial-metal supplies. Copper and aluminum are among the commodities covered by its warehouse reporting system. Hong Kong plans tokenized warehouse financing for 2027. Hong Kong's September policy address provides a more detailed timetable for commodity-backed financing. The government said Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), which acquired the LME in 2012, was working toward a pilot for tokenized warehouse-receipt financing with designated banks in 2027. According to the official policy document, the pilot will use physical tracking technology to support loans secured against commodity inventories. HKEX is separately developing a blockchain-backed platform designed to handle several types of tokenized assets. The platform already incorporates carbon credits listed on Core Climate, while warehouse receipts from LME-approved facilities are scheduled for inclusion in a pilot next year. The government expects the system to support collateral management across different asset categories. Hong Kong reported more than 60,000 square meters of warehouse space and inventories exceeding 20,000 metric tons after joining the LME's approved delivery network in 2025. Officials intend to encourage additional approved warehouses in the Northern Metropolis, alongside proposed tax concessions for physical commodity trading. The development program includes financing, storage, risk management and customs arrangements. Hong Kong expands its tokenized commodities business. Hong Kong's commodities initiative follows China's 15th five-year plan, published in March, which explicitly supports developing the city as a major trading center for physical commodities. The September policy address calls for using Hong Kong's position within the LME warehousing network to develop related trading and financing services. The exchange is examining whether to permit outdoor aluminum storage in the territory, despite concerns about weather exposure and security. Other commodity businesses have already introduced blockchain-linked products in Hong Kong. On October 27, crypto.news reported that the Hong Kong Gold Exchange was integrating Chainlink technology to support cross-chain transfers of its XGZ gold token. Each XGZ represents one gram of physical gold, with eligible holders able to request physical redemption subject to the issuer's requirements. That initiative concerns gold-backed digital tokens, separate from the LME's proposed industrial-metal financing system. Tokenized metal collateral attracts financing providers. Interest in using physical commodities as blockchain-based collateral has spread to lending and capital markets. In August, Bitfinex Securities completed a $50 million tokenized capital raise for Alkemya, using a security linked to a partnership holding nickel assets independently valued at approximately $1.64 billion. The transaction involved investment interests tied to existing metal assets, while the LME proposal focuses on financing inventories through warehouse-backed digital representations. Elsewhere, tokenized gold has entered secured lending. Arch Lending introduced loans backed by PAXG and XAUT, accepting the tokens as collateral at loan-to-value ratios of up to 75%. Arch's CEO, Himanshu Sahay, described growing demand for using tokenized gold as borrowing collateral. Its arrangement places pledged assets with Anchorage Digital and uses liquidation procedures when collateral values fall below required levels. In Hong Kong, the government's planned 2027 warehouse-receipt pilot will involve designated banks, while HKEX's blockchain platform is expected to incorporate commodity receipts from approved warehouses alongside its existing carbon-credit assets.

HKEX launches AI index,southern Asset Management authorized to launch ETF. HONG KONG, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) today announced the launch of the HKEX Artificial Intelligence Index (HKEX AI). As HKEX's first AI-themed index, HKEX AI offers investors a clearly defined, comprehensive, index-based tool for allocating to the artificial intelligence value chain. The launch further broadens HKEX's index suite and marks another important step in deepening its index business and serving investors' diversified allocation needs. HKEX has signed an agreement with China Southern Asset Management Co., Ltd. (Southern Asset Management), authorising it to launch an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking the index in the Chinese mainland market. HKEX AI captures the AI value chain through a single index, with its thematic universe spans four segments: AI chips, AI infrastructure, AI models and AI applications. The chip segment supplies the computing hardware that underpins AI; infrastructure directly captures AI capital expenditure; domestic open-source large language models are becoming a preferred option for enterprise deployment; and the commercial pathways for applications are becoming increasingly clear. The 40 constituents include SMIC, Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings and next-generation AI companies such as Biren Technology, Zhipu AI, MiniMax and Horizon Robotics, many of which are Hong Kong-listed. Eligible constituents must meet thresholds for R&D expenditure and capital expenditure, each representing no less than 3% of sales, and sales growth of no less than 5% over the past two years. No individual constituent may exceed a 10% weight, while each stock in the applications segment is capped at 3%. The index is reviewed and rebalanced quarterly. HKEX is one of the world's leading exchange groups. In recent years, it has become a preferred public fundraising market for innovative technology companies in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and semiconductors. To help investors capture emerging opportunities and diversify their portfolios, HKEX is actively developing new index products, including the HKEX TECH 100 Index. As the world's largest offshore market for China-related capital, Hong Kong combines access to Chinese assets with international price discovery, making it a preferred gateway for international capital seeking exposure to Chinese assets. As one of China's first fund management companies to operate under a standardised framework, Southern Asset Management has been a pioneer in the opening of China's capital markets. It was among the first to obtain Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) status in 2007. Its subsidiary, CSOP Asset Management Limited, was also the first overseas branch established by a mainland fund management company. The collaboration with HKEX further extends and deepens Southern Asset Management's international strategy. HKEX Group Chief Information Officer, Richard Leung, said: "We are delighted to be launching the HKEX Artificial intelligence Index, giving investors more ways to capture new trends and participate in the growth of the region's technology ecosystem. We are also pleased to be licensing this index to China Southern for ETF products in the Chinese Mainland and look forward to partnering with other market participants to develop more investment products based on our index suite, increasing investor choice and further elevating the depth and vibrancy of our markets." Yang Xiaosong, General Manager of Southern Asset Management, said: "We are honoured to receive HKEX's authorisation to develop an ETF tracking the index in the Chinese mainland market. This is an important example of Southern Asset Management putting its international strategy into practice and serving investors' needs for diversified asset allocation. Through this collaboration, we will turn the opportunities across Hong Kong's AI value chain into an index-based tool that mainland investors can access conveniently. Looking ahead, we will continue to enrich our product offering for cross-market connectivity, build an investment bridge between the mainland and Hong Kong capital markets, and support two-way empowerment and a virtuous cycle between the technology sector and capital markets in a high-standard opening-up environment." Southern Asset Management noted that artificial intelligence is a core sector in developing new quality productive forces. Hong Kong's market brings together companies across the full AI value chain, from chips and computing infrastructure to large language models and application deployment. Under transparent and rigorous methodology, HKEX AI places the Hong Kong-listed AI value chain within a unified, investable framework, providing domestic and international investors with an efficient tool for gaining broad exposure to China's AI assets. By advancing the launch of the related ETF in the Chinese mainland market, Southern Asset Management will enable more investors to participate conveniently in the growth potential of the AI industry and support the in-depth implementation of the "Artificial Intelligence Plus" initiative. Going forward, Southern Asset Management will continue to leverage its international strengths and work in close coordination with CSOP to advance the development and promotion of the HKEX AI ecosystem, jointly building an AI index ecosystem that connects the mainland and Hong Kong. Risk Disclosure: Historical index performance is not indicative of future results. Investments in AI-themed products may be highly volatile. The launch of the related ETF remains subject to regulatory approval; the specific arrangements will be announced separately. Company Name: China Southern Asset Management Contact Person: Si Chen Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.southernfund.com/en/ Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. China Daily Sun do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.