BUZZ-Pork producer WH Group touches 6-week high on Smithfield IPO

Shares of WH Group 0288.HK, the world's largest pork producer, climb 2.2% to HK$6.62, their highest since Dec. 12, 2024; set for a fourth consecutive session of gains

Co's Smithfield Foods is targeting a valuation of up to $10.73 bln in its New York flotation, the biggest U.S. pork processor said on Tuesday, moving closer to its U.S. stock market return after more than a decade

WH Group is spinning off and seeking a separate listing of Smithfield Foods on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as it looks to create a separate fundraising platform for its U.S. and Mexico businesses

Smithfield and WH Group are each offering 17.4 mln shares, priced between $23 and $27 each, to raise up to $939.6 mln

Hang Seng Commerce & Industry Index .HSNC falls 1.4%, while index tracking consumer staples .HSCICS and Hang Seng Index .HSI both slip 1.1%

WH Group shares rose 19.3% last year

(Reporting by Donny Kwok)

((donny.kwok@thomsonreuters.com))