Hong Kong back in global IPO spotlight after strongest January in years

Nearly 100 companies filed new listing applications in Hong Kong in January, marking a strong start to 2026 for initial public offering (IPO) activity.A total of 95 companies applied to list on Hong Kong’s main board, while one sought a place on the Growth Enterprise Market, which primarily served smaller and growth-stage firms, according to a report from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) on Friday.The 96 applications were more than triple the 29 recorded a year earlier, and roughly equal to a fifth of the 466 total in 2025, which was already one of the strongest years for new listings.“January has been one of the strongest months for Hong Kong’s IPO market in recent years,” said Robert Lui, who leads Deloitte China’s offering services for the southern region. “The momentum stems from good market sentiment with a strong pipeline following stellar results in 2025.”Hong Kong reclaimed the world’s top spot for IPOs in 2025 after a slump since its 2021 peak. A total of 114 companies raised US$37.22 billion on the exchange’s main board last year.In January, 12 companies listed in the city, raising US$4.2 billion, up 447 per cent from a year earlier, according to data released by the London Stock Exchange (LSEG) on Friday. Because the 2025 Lunar New Year fell in January, trading days were fewer, amplifying the contrast in fundraising.A dozen companies listed in the city in January, raising US$4.2 billion, up 447 per cent from a year earlier, Photo: Jelly Tse