Should You Invest in the Hang Seng Index?

A Guide to Hong Kong's ETFs, ADRs, and More

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Hong Kong is a leading financial center, with low taxation, near-free port trade, and international financial markets. These dynamics have made the country's stock market, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), the third-largest in Asia and the sixth-largest in the world.

International investors tracking this market often watch the Hang Seng Index, which tracks the largest companies traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This index accounts for about 40% of the exchange's total market capitalization. Since its inception in July of 1964, the index has moved from 100 points to more than 28,000 points, as of July 2021.

Key Takeaways

  • The Hang Seng Index consists of 50 of the largest and most liquid companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, similar to the S&P 500 in the U.S.
  • The Hang Seng Index underlies many exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and you can also access it through American depository receipts (ADRs).
  • As no Hang Seng ETFs are traded in the U.S., one alternative is iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund ETF (EWH).
  • Investing in Hong Kong ETFs and ADRs can be risky due to political changes from mainland China and the increase in state-run businesses.

The Hang Seng Index

The Hang Seng Index is a stock market index consisting of 50 of the largest and most liquid companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This accounts for 40% of its total market capitalization. Like the S&P 500 in the United States, the index is designed to mimic the overall performance of the stock market at any given time.

The Hang Seng Index provides international investors with a quick glance into the health of Hong Kong's stock market, which can be difficult to see when looking at individual equities. The global nature of Hong Kong's economy also means that the Hang Seng serves as a proxy for the wider Asian market—especially China's stock market, which is often mispriced due to capital restrictions.

Like many indexes, the Hang Seng also underlies many exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that provide easy exposure to Hong Kong's economy in a single security. These ETFs offer a simpler alternative to American depository receipts (ADRs) that provide additional exposure to individual Hong Kong stocks, which must be integrated into a wider portfolio to ensure diversification.

Other Hong Kong Indexes To Follow

There are many different versions of the Hang Seng Index available to international investors, ranging from industrial divisions to corporate sustainability and other niches. The core industrial divisions include finance, utilities, properties, and commerce or industry; others include access to both mainland and China-affiliated companies in the space.

The major Hang Seng indexes include:

  • The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index
  • The Hang Seng China-Affiliated Corporations Index
  • The Hang Seng China H-Financials Index
  • The Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index
  • The Hang Seng Mainland 100
  • The Hang Seng HK 35
  • The Hang Seng REIT Index
  • The HIS Volatility Index
  • The Hang Seng China 50 Index
  • The Hang Seng China AH Premium Index
  • The Hang Seng China A Industry Top Index

Investing in the Hang Seng Index

The easiest way to invest in the Hang Seng Index is by using ETFs, although no funds are traded in the United States. The best alternative is the iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund ETF (EWH), which tracks the MSCI Hong Kong Index, a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of Hong Kong's total market capitalization.

With about $940 million in total net assets under management (as of January 2022), the ETF has an expense ratio of 0.50% with 35 holdings in its portfolio. International investors should keep in mind, however, that the index is 41.41% weighted toward financials, 21.83% weighted toward real estate, and 5.83% weighted toward consumer cyclicals, creating some concentration risks.

Investors who are looking for another option may also consider ADRs, which represent individual companies traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Examples of these companies include AIA Group Ltd. (AAGIY) and Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (SUHJY).

International investors should keep in mind that the Hang Seng and related Hong Kong ETFs and ADRs involve a higher level of risk than domestic investments. In addition to being an emerging market, China may present greater political risk, given its government's track record of intervention, the rise of state-run businesses, and unrest that affects the marketplace.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. World Federation of Exchanges. "Market Statistics - December 2020."

  2. Hang Seng Indexes. "Hang Seng Composite Index – Another Benchmark That Deserves More Recognition," Page 2.

  3. Hang Seng Indexes. "Hang Seng Index," Page 1.

  4. MSCI. "MSCI Hong Kong 25/50 Index (USD)."

  5. iShares. "iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF."

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