Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing launched two HKEX technology indices on October 23, 2026, adding benchmarks for artificial intelligence and semiconductor companies listed in Hong Kong. The exchange also licensed its AI benchmark to China Southern Asset Management for a planned mainland China ETF, with product launch details still to come.
Key Takeaways
- The AI benchmark tracks 40 Hong Kong-listed companies across the technology value chain.
- The semiconductor benchmark covers 30 of the largest Hong Kong-listed companies connected to the industry.
- China Southern Asset Management’s AI index licensing agreement does not mean an ETF has launched.
Table of Contents
- HKEX technology indices target two different exposures
- Real-time benchmarks with quarterly reviews
- Mainland ETF licensing is a separate product step
- Conclusion
HKEX technology indices target two different exposures
HKEX’s announcement of the AI and semiconductor benchmarks expands its proprietary index range with two distinct ways to follow Hong Kong-listed technology businesses. Both benchmarks are limited to companies listed in Hong Kong rather than providing global sector coverage.
The HKEX Artificial Intelligence Index spans chip design, data centres, AI infrastructure, models, software and physical applications. Its 40 constituents are selected and weighted using a fundamental-tilted approach intended to identify companies making meaningful investments in AI research and development and capital expenditure.
The HKEX Semiconductor Index measures 30 of the largest semiconductor-related companies listed in Hong Kong. Its scope includes manufacturing, equipment, electronic components, computing hardware and storage.
The distinction is in the exposure each benchmark measures: the AI index follows a theme across several business activities, while the semiconductor index concentrates on the chip-related value chain. Neither should be treated as interchangeable with a broad technology-market benchmark.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Calculation currency | Hong Kong dollars for both indices |
| Dissemination interval | Every 15 seconds |
| Review and rebalancing | Quarterly |
| Historical base date | December 31, 2020 |
| Base value | 10,000 for each index |
Real-time benchmarks with quarterly reviews
Both indices are denominated in Hong Kong dollars and disseminated every 15 seconds. Quarterly reviews and rebalancing provide a regular schedule for updating their composition.
Their shared historical base date is separate from the October 2026 launch date. A base value provides a reference point for calculating index performance; it is not the price of an investment product.
For investors comparing funds that may eventually track these benchmarks, constituent weights and methodology will help determine concentration and overlap with existing technology holdings.
Mainland ETF licensing is a separate product step
China Southern Asset Management has licensed the AI index to develop an ETF for mainland China investors. HKEX said product launch details would be shared later; no launch date, fund size, fee or listing venue was disclosed.
Southern Asset Management General Manager Yang Xiaosong described the collaboration as supporting the firm’s international strategy and diversified asset allocation offering. Those remarks explain the manager’s rationale, rather than establish expected subscriptions or fund flows.
HKEX Group Chief Information Officer Richard Leung said the exchange intends to work with other market participants on investment products based on its index suite. No additional licensees were named.
Conclusion
The benchmarks are now launched, while the mainland ETF remains a separate development. The next announced step to watch is the release of product launch details from HKEX and China Southern Asset Management.
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Disclaimer
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