Companies listed in the UK can now sell shares in mainland China due to closer co-operation between the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and its Shanghai counterpart.
Originally due to launch in December 2018, the London-Shanghai Stock Connect launched on Monday (17th) and it also allows Chinese investors to purchase stocks listed on the LSE.
UK chancellor Philip Hammond hailed “a new chapter in the relationship [between the UK and China] through the launch of the London-Shanghai Stock Connect”.
He added: “This year we are enhancing our financial cooperation, launching the ground-breaking London-Shanghai Stock Connect, and agreeing a new £1 billion fund to support trailblazing UK businesses. We are also supporting our Great British food industry, with China now opening up its markets to British beef and pork.”
Foreign investors are increasingly looking to tap into opportunities in China as it offers compelling fundamentals, giving them exposure to a diverse, complementary group of companies, industries and economies at various stages of development.
Chinese brokerage Huatai Securities became the first issuer to use the London-Shanghai Stock Connect, raising $1.54 billion through the sale of global depositary receipts (GDRs) to international investors.
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