The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has issued restriction notices to four brokerage firms to freeze client accounts related to suspected hacker intrusion and market manipulation.

On November 21st, Jin10 data reported that the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission issued restriction notices to four brokerage firms, prohibiting them from disposing or dealing with certain assets held in their clients’ accounts, on the grounds that the accounts were suspected of being related to market manipulation or fraudulent activities. The relevant activities occurred between October 24th and November 6th, 2024, and involved unauthorized online trading after the accounts were invaded. The four brokerage firms are Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited (Interactive Brokers), Softbank China Financial Service Limited (Softbank), DAS Securities Limited (DAS), and Guotai Junan International Brokerage Limited (Guotai Junan). The restriction notices prohibit these four brokerage firms from disposing or dealing with, or assisting, inducing or causing another person to dispose or deal with the assets in these accounts in any way, up to a total of 91 million yuan, without the prior written consent of the Securities and Futures Commission. If these brokerage firms receive any instructions related to the above restrictions, they must also notify the Securities and Futures Commission.