The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has conducted searches at finance firms as part of an investigation into potential pump-and-dump schemes involving Nasdaq-listed companies: The probe follows concerns from the New York exchange regarding the identities of pre-IPO investors and share allocations of Hong Kong-based firms.

The Nasdaq 100 index is facing a potential rebalancing due to eight companies exceeding the 4.5% threshold, collectively representing about 52% of the index: This adjustment is driven by regulations and is expected to reduce their combined weighting to 40%, impacting index-tracking funds like Invesco QQQ Trust.

Nasdaq welcomed 171 IPOs in 2024, raising $22.7 billion, marking its sixth consecutive year as the leading U.S. exchange by number of IPOs and proceeds: This includes 123 operating companies and 48 SPACs, with an 81% win rate of Nasdaq-eligible IPOs, indicating a strong performance and bullish trend for NDAQ.