BEIJING, Jan. 27 -- Hong Kong's stock market became the ninth largest in the world and ranked third in total funds raised in 2004.

The latest issue of Bank of China Hong Kong branch's Monthly Economic Review says among the major records set in 2004, Hong Kong's total market capitalization surged to 6.7 trillion HK dollars or about 860 billion US dollars.

    That is four and a half times the GDP of the Special Administrative Region. The number of listed companies there also climbed to 1,096.

    The review also points out Chinese companies are playing an increasingly dominant role in Hong Kong's stock market, judging from their proportion of market cap, turnover and funds raised.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)