Yao Tsai Securities Investment Forum: Hang Seng Index expected to challenge 26000 points in the second half of the year, optimistic about the AI track.

Bright Smart (01428) will hold the "2026 Second Half Global Investment Forum" on June 27. It is mentioned that the Hong Kong stock market is expected to improve after the first half of the year, with the Hang Seng Index potentially reaching 25,500 to 26,000 points again, and the prospects for AI-related sectors are seen as promising. New stocks can be jointly applied for with family and friends to increase the chance of allocation; and individual stock futures in the US market will be launched in the summer, allowing trading with a 15% margin during the Asian trading session. In the first half of the year, the focus of the Hong Kong stock market was on AI large models, AI hardware, storage chips, and optical communications. Investors are advised to diversify by using bull-bear certificates or warrants to avoid excessive concentration of funds. Brian Li, Executive Director and Co-CEO of Bright Smart Securities, suggested that although new stocks performed well on the first day in the first half of the year, the difficulty of allocation has increased. He recommends investors to maintain a long-term perspective, reduce the cost of new subscriptions by waiving subscription fees and financing costs, and use strategies such as joint applications with family and friends to increase the chance of allocation. William Chik, Director of Research Department, believes it is difficult to determine whether the Hang Seng Index has reached its bottom, but he believes there is potential for improvement after the first half of the year, with a chance to surpass the 25,500 to 26,000 points level, and he reiterates his positive outlook on AI-related sectors. Xiaoya Yang, Director of Retail Business Development and Sales at Bright Smart Securities, revealed that US stock futures will be launched in the summer of 2026, with an initial batch of 54 individual stock futures, including standard and micro contracts. These can be traded during Asian trading hours with a 15% margin controlling up to 6 times leverage, allowing individual investors to flexibly manage long and short positions without borrowing stocks, providing a convenient tool. Brian Lee, Co-Director of Equity Derivatives Sales at CITIC SEC International, pointed out that speculation in the first half of the year in the Hong Kong stock market focused on AI large models, AI hardware, storage chips, and optical communications. He advises investors to maintain an open mind and recommends using a diversified position strategy, allocating 10% to 20% of the funds originally intended for investment in single stocks or indexes to purchase bull certificates or warrants of corresponding assets, and using warrants or bull-bear certificates to build mini portfolios in multiple sectors to avoid excessive concentration of funds.