HKEX vs SSE: hours, settlement and tech listings compared
How the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange differ for technology investors: trading hours, currency, settlement, price limits and the tech companies each one lists.
HKEX: 09:30–12:00, 13:00–16:00 local
SSE: 09:30–11:30, 13:00–15:00 local
Key differences
- On 19 October 2026 their regular sessions overlap for 4 h 00 min, between 01:30 and 07:00 UTC. The overlap changes when clocks move for daylight-saving time.
- HKEX trades in HKD and SSE in CNY: returns for a foreign investor include the exchange-rate move. See currency moves.
- HKEX settles on T+2 and SSE on T+1, which matters when you sell in one market to buy in the other.
- HKEX and SSE have a midday lunch break.
Side by side
| HKEX | SSE | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Hong Kong SAR, China | China |
| Operator | Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) | Shanghai Stock Exchange (state-supervised) |
| Currency | HKD | CNY |
| Local trading hours | 09:30–12:00, 13:00–16:00 (Asia/Hong_Kong) | 09:30–11:30, 13:00–15:00 (Asia/Shanghai) |
| Your time today | — | — |
| Settlement | T+2 | T+1 |
| Price limits | No daily price limit. A Volatility Control Mechanism triggers a cooling-off period for large stocks after sudden moves. | ±10% per day on the main board; ±20% on the STAR Market. |
| Minimum trading unit | Set per stock (board lots differ by company) | 100 shares on the main board; STAR Market buy orders need at least 200 shares |
| Regulator | Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) | China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) |
| Technology benchmark | Hang Seng TECH Index | STAR 50 |
| Main indices | Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng TECH Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index | SSE Composite, SSE 50, STAR 50 |
| Listing boards | Main Board, GEM | Main Board, STAR Market |
Tech companies listed
HKEX
SSE
Examples of well-known listings, not recommendations.
More about each exchange
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange profile
- Shanghai Stock Exchange profile
- Add a third exchange in the comparison tool
Guides
T+1 Settlement Explained: Which Markets Settle Next Day
The US, Canada and India already settle share trades in one day; the EU, UK and Switzerland plan to follow on 11 October 2027. What T+1 means for your cash, dividends and trades abroad.
Growth Boards for Tech Companies Compared
Where young technology companies list around the world: AIM, Euronext Growth, First North, Scale, TSE Growth, STAR Market, ChiNext and KOSDAQ compared, with the risks for investors.
Global Stock Market Hours: When the Big Exchanges Overlap
When do Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Frankfurt and New York trade at the same time? Trading hours in UTC, the Europe–US overlap and why it changes twice a year.