ENLARGE
One of the major global equity index providers, SP Dow Jones Indices, said a recently opened trading link between Hong Kong and Shanghai means Chinese stocks listed on the mainland will soon be included in its indexes.
“I don’t think it’ll be terribly long” until so-called A-shares are included, said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at SP Dow Jones Indices.
The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect “is a major change. They’re available. They should be in indexes and they will be in indexes.”
SP Dow Jones will make its decision in September, after MSCI Inc.
said yesterday it will decide June 9 whether to add China A-shares to its widely tracked emerging-markets index.
The potential inclusion into these major indexes tracked by global investors is being closely watched as any move could supercharge an already roaring rally in Chinese shares.
Asked whether inclusion of A-shares by one index provider could trigger others in the industry to follow suit, Mr. Blitzer said: “Probably so.” He added: “We all watch each other.”
Write to Gregor Stuart Hunter at gregor.hunter@wsj.com