HKEX Launches Indices Covering 40 AI Companies and 30 Semiconductor Companies
Key Facts
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, HKEX, announced on 23 October the launch of two new indices, one tracking AI companies and the other semiconductor companies listed in Hong Kong. The AI index includes 40 companies, while the semiconductor index measures the performance of the 30 largest companies linked to the sector and listed in the market. The exchange said the indices provide benchmarks for the two themes and expand its range of indices. Their launch gives each sector a separate measure within Hong Kong equities, with the companies covered differing in scope. HKEX did not describe the indices as a means of direct investment, but said they provide benchmarks for the technology sectors.
The AI index spans the value chain, including companies with high exposure to chip design, data centres, infrastructure, models, software and physical applications. Its coverage therefore extends beyond model and software companies to the infrastructure and component segments involved in developing and operating AI systems. HKEX selects and weights companies using an approach that, in its description of the methodology, leans toward fundamental factors. The approach aims to identify companies that devote substantial resources to AI-related research and development and capital expenditure. The semiconductor index covers the 30 largest companies related to the sector, from manufacturing and equipment to electronic components, computing devices and storage. The two indices distinguish between related themes, with a broader company count assigned to the AI value chain.
The launch is part of a series of expansions to HKEX’s technology index range. In December 2025, the exchange launched the Tech 100 index, which tracks 100 companies listed in Hong Kong across six technology themes, including AI. It then announced in April 2026 a joint semiconductor index with the Korea Exchange, as well as an index combining technology companies in Hong Kong and the US. HKEX at the time signed licensing agreements with 5 issuers to develop ETFs linked to the two indices. The Hong Kong and US Technology Index includes 200 companies, with 100 from each market, according to its April 2026 fact sheet. Before the current launch, the exchange announced in August 2026 that it would enhance the methodology of the Tech 100 index, with the changes and constituent adjustments to take effect after market close on 11 September of the same year.
The new indices have an issue date of 21 October 2026, while their base date is 31 December 2020, with a base value of 10,000 points. HKEX reviews the constituents of each index and rebalances them every three months. It also publishes the value of both indices every 15 seconds, according to exchange data. These specifications set the start date of the series and how changes in its value are tracked, along with the update frequency and the timing of company-weight adjustments. The periodic review mechanism applies to indices whose constituents span multiple companies and activities within each theme. The number of companies remains different between the two indices: 40 in AI and 30 in semiconductors.
Richard Leung, chief information officer of HKEX Group, said, "AI and semiconductors are transforming industries." He added that the two sectors are becoming important drivers of growth and innovation globally. The exchange linked the launch of the indices to the broadening impact of the two technologies across industries, while assigning each a benchmark tracking relevant companies listed in Hong Kong. The difference in design reflects the difference in coverage: the AI index covers a value chain that includes infrastructure and applications, while the semiconductor index focuses on companies linked to the sector, including manufacturing, equipment, components, computing devices and storage. These classifications set the scope of the companies and activities included in each measure.
Alongside the launch, HKEX signed a licensing agreement with China Southern Asset Management to launch mainland China-listed ETFs based on the AI index. The exchange said details of the product launch would be published later, without specifying a date in its announcement. The agreement opens a path to a traded product linked to the index, while implementation details remain deferred to a subsequent announcement. In trading, HKEX shares listed under the ticker HKXCY closed at 47.51 on 21 October, then at 47.18 on 22 October, before ending the 23 October session at 47.14. The available closing data did not specify the currency of the prices and did not include the session’s high and low prices.