The Hang Seng Index rose 1.5 per cent to 26,002.82 as of 10am local time on Friday, the best trading start since 2023. The Hang Seng Tech Index added 3 per cent. On the mainland, the markets were closed for public holidays.
The Hang Seng Index ended 2025 with a 28 per cent gain on Wednesday, securing its best yearly performance since gaining 36 per cent in 2017. The CSI 300 Index of the mainland’s yuan-denominated stocks climbed 18 per cent in 2025, the biggest gain since 2020.
Leading the gains on Friday, search-engine giant Baidu jumped 6.7 per cent to HK$140.30, after it said its AI chip unit Kunlunxin has filed a listing application with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Thursday. Electric-vehicle maker Li Auto added 5.9 per cent to HK$68.70, and online game provider NetEase advanced 4.8 per cent to HK$224.60. Online-travel booking agency Trip.com climbed 4 per cent to HK$576, while blind-box toymaker Pop Mart rose 2.9 per cent to HK$193.20.
Limiting gains, electric utility firm Power Assets dropped 1 per cent to HK$54.60, infrastructure company CK Infrastructure Holdings retreated 1.1 per cent to HK$56.95 and clean energy distributor ENN Energy lost 0.4 per cent to HK$68.95.
