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New World Development loses blue-chip status in ejection from Hang Seng Index

Quarterly review adds video platform Kuaishou Technology and New Oriental Education & Technology to the Hong Kong benchmark

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A view of New World Tower in Central on September 26, 2024. Photo: Jelly Tse
Zhang Shidongin ShanghaiandEnoch Yiuin Hong Kong
New World Development (NWD), one of Hong Kong’s longest-tenured blue-chip stocks, will be kicked out of the Hang Seng Index (HSI) next month following the latest quarterly review by the compiler of the benchmark for the city’s US$5.4 trillion stock market.
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The city’s most indebted home builder joined the HSI in 1973, just a year after it went public. It was removed from the index in 2003 but regained a spot in 2005.
The developer reported a HK$19.7 billion (US$2.5 billion) net loss for the year ended June 30, the worst since the late Cheng Yu-tung founded the company in 1970. In a subsequent shake-up, scion Adrian Cheng Chi-kong stepped down as CEO in September and was replaced by chief operating officer Eric Ma Siu-cheung.

While NWD exits, video-sharing platform Kuaishou Technology and New Oriental Education & Technology Group will join the stock gauge as of December 9, Hang Seng Indexes, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hang Seng Bank, said in a statement on Friday.

That will boost the number of the constituents on the benchmark to 83 from 82 currently. In the last review in August, the compiler made no changes to the index’s composition.
Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former CEO of New World Development, pictured at the Asean Summit 2024 in Admiralty on September 13, 2024. Photo: Eugene Lee
Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former CEO of New World Development, pictured at the Asean Summit 2024 in Admiralty on September 13, 2024. Photo: Eugene Lee

Following the review of other stock gauges in the Hang Seng index family, mainland insurer PICC Property and Casualty will be added to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland companies trading in the city, while mainland developer Longfor Group Holdings will be removed, the compiler said.

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