According to sources, Jane Street, a leading quantitative trading firm and market maker, is looking to significantly expand its office space in Hong Kong. The New York-based company is in talks with Hongkong Land to lease two additional floors at Chater House, an office building in Central's business district. This move would increase Jane Street's office space to over 110,000 sq ft across six floors, compared to 2.5 floors a year ago.

Despite escalating tensions between the US and China, the latter has become a popular investment destination, reflected in the 15% surge of Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index in the first quarter. This growing market activity is evident in the significant increase in daily turnover to $28 billion in the first two months of 2025, a 70% rise from the previous year.

Other companies such as Citadel Securities and Tower Research Capital have also been expanding their presence in Hong Kong. Jane Street, with 400 employees in the city, serves not only mainland China and Hong Kong but also markets in Japan, Singapore, and Australia. The firm is actively recruiting for more than 40 positions in Hong Kong, as per its website.

Jane Street, known for its high-frequency trading and dominance in the exchange-traded funds market, has experienced remarkable growth. It is a registered market maker on the Hong Kong stock exchange and obtained approval to trade yuan-denominated shares in 2023. Reports suggest that Jane Street earned around $6.1 billion in the first half of 2024, nearly double its earnings from the previous year.

Plans are in place for Jane Street to take over the office space currently occupied by Point72 Asset Management. Point72's move is attributed to the need for additional office space, as reported by local media. Requests for comments from the US hedge fund remain unanswered.