The Hong Kong Stock Exchange announced on Friday that the morning trading session would be delayed due to a warning issued by the Hong Kong Observatory for Typhoon "Soudelor".
Super Typhoon "Soudelor" is approaching Hong Kong, with the Hong Kong Observatory issuing a Number 8 warning signal. The Number 8 signal is the third highest level in Hong Kong's weather warning system, indicating severe weather conditions. Trading will continue to be suspended while the Number 8 signal is in force. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong announced that the morning trading sessions for its securities market (including Northbound Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect) and derivatives market will be delayed.
The Number 8 warning signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory predicts that Hong Kong may face heavy rain, stormy weather, and flooding. Nearly all activities in Hong Kong have come to a halt, with schools, offices, and most public infrastructure set to close.
Typhoon "Soudelor" is expected to make landfall in Guangdong, about 300 kilometers away from Hong Kong, with predicted wind speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour. It is likely to be one of the five strongest typhoons to hit the China region since 1949.
Forecasting agencies expect Typhoon Soudelor to land in China on Friday, with some coastal cities in China having already issued the highest level of typhoon warnings. Other regions may also experience severe storms.
Additionally, a second typhoon, "Haikui", is expected to sweep through the eastern waters of Taiwan in the coming days and may subsequently make landfall along China's eastern coast.
