The Exchange Fund investment income surged in 2019 to HK$247.2 billion, the second-highest since 2017, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced. The fund recorded an investment return of 6.2 percent in the year. Gains on Hong Kong equities and other equities totaled HK$22.1 billion and HK$100.3 billion, respectively, compared with losses in both segments. Gains on bonds expanded by 99 percent to HK$114.4 billion last year, while non-Hong Kong dollar assets saw a negative currency translation effect of HK$13.0 billion. HKMA chief executive Eddie Yue Wai-man, said global financial markets were clouded by the slowdown of global economic growth and US-China trade tensions last year, but accommodative monetary policies by major central banks lent support to equity and bond markets.

Source: The Standard January 23, 2020 09:56 UTC