The corporate flag for Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd, right, and the Chinese national flag, left, fly outside the Exchange Square complex in Hong Kong, on Sept 16, 2019. (PAUL YEUNG / BLOOMBERG)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) topped the world's IPO league table for a second straight year in 2019, also the seventh time in the last 11 years.

More than 180 businesses raised a total of HK$312.9 billion (about US$40 billion) on their Hong Kong market debut last year, up 9 percent from that of 2018

More than 180 businesses raised a total of HK$312.9 billion (about US$40 billion) on their Hong Kong market debut last year, up 9 percent from that of 2018, the HKEx has said on its Twitter account.

"HKEX’s IPO market continued to gain momentum in 2019, raising HK$312.9 billion to become the world’s top IPO market. We also set several records in our derivatives markets in December," according to the post issued by the Hong Kong bourse on Twitter Tuesday evening.

The HKEx witnessed several world-class listings, including that of Alibaba Group Holding and Budweiser Brewing Company APAC, which, the exchange said, underscored the strong appeal of Hong Kong's markets for global and regional issuers alike.

Thanks to the new blood, HKEx's market capitalization jumped 28 percent from a year ago to HK$38.2 trillion at the end of December. A new record of HK$38.4 trillion was set on Dec 30, 2019.

ALSO READ: Hong Kong pulls out all the stops in world IPO race