Société Générale has launched a "dark pool" in Hong Kong and has outlined plans to expand its equities franchise in the region as the French bank looks to compete with a surge of foreign players searching for opportunities in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region.

The French firm has launched its Alpha x European crossing network in Hong Kong and has outlined plans to launch the service in Japan and Australia, as the bank looks to boost its Asia-Pacific equities franchise amid growing competition from global broker dealers hoping to tap the buoyant Asia-Pacific equities markets.