Hackers target Hong Kong’s stock exchange

Hong Kong’s stock exchange is blaming hackers for a trading disruption yesterday afternoon that led to the suspension of some of the city’s biggest stocks, including Cathay Pacific, HSBC and even the exchange itself.

Charles Li, HKEx’s chief executive, told reporters that he suspected a “malicious attack” caused the disruption. Securities and derivatives trading platforms were not affected directly, but the attack prevented seven listed companies from publishing price-sensitive lunchtime announcements on the exchange’s news website.

Surprisingly, officials at the exchange took the view that retail investors might be disadvantaged by this and suspended all seven stocks from afternoon trading a move that seemed far more...