With 13 unicorns launching IPOs, the number of IPOs is expected to reach 507 globally in the first half of 2019, with total proceeds reaching $71.9 billion. The number of IPOs on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange continues to rank first in the world, a report released by consulting firm EY showed on Tuesday. 

The Asia-Pacific region continues to dominate global IPO activity year-to-date 2019. By volumes and proceeds, the region accounted for five and three of the top eight exchanges respectively.

The global IPO activity slowdown continued following an unusually quiet first half of 2019 amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, trade issues among the US, China and Brexit. As markets stabilize and tensions ease, we expect higher IPO activity in the second half of 2019, said Terence Ho, EY Greater China IPO leader in a note sent to the Global Times.

In the first half of 2019, the A-share IPO market remained stable, 64 companies are estimated to have listed, raising a total of 60.4 billion yuan ($8.78 billion), up 2 percent by volume compared with the previous year. The market saw a rise of 52 percent and 33 percent respectively in terms of volume and proceeds compared with the second half of 2018.

By industry, the TMT, materials and industrial enterprises ranked the first concurrently by IPO volumes.