BOC opened at HK$3.15 ($0.41) a share, HK$0.2 above its initial public offering price of HK$2.95. It closed at HK$3.4, 15.4 percent higher than the IPO price.
　　
　　The IPO is the biggest for any Chinese company in Hong Kong, raising $9.7 billion, which exceeded CCB’s previous high of about $8 billion.
　　
　　"This is an exciting day," BOC Chairman Xiao Gang said. "The strong performance reflects the confidence of international investors in China‘s booming economy and the reform in financial institutions, also their recognition of BOC’s century-old brand."
　　
　　Xiao said the bank seeks to list in China soon after the Hong Kong listing, but did not reveal whether it would happen this month as reported earlier by Chinese media.
　　
　　"The time will depend on the market conditions and regulatory institutions’ approval," he said.
　　
　　Regarding the Chinese government’s tightening of control in the overheated property market, Xiao said the control will serve to improve the macro-economy and will actually have a positive impact on the property market.
　　
　　BOC is one of the companies anxious to list on the Shanghai bourse.
　　
　　At a celebration cocktail party after the market closed, BOC Vice Chairman Li Lihui said the share price increase was a "good reaction" from the market and he hopes the bank‘s share price will "grow step by step in a stable environment."