China's WH Group Ltd, the world's biggest pork company, has postponed its planned Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) due to weak demand for the deal even after it cut the offer size by two-thirds, sources said on Tuesday.

China's regulator posted draft initial public offering (IPO) prospectuses for 18 Chinese firms on Monday, bringing the total number of potential issuers up to 46, with state media estimating they could raise as much as 22.6 billion yuan ($3.6 billion) from investors.

The world's biggest pork company has deployed 29 banks to market its up to $5.3 billion Hong Kong IPO in the hopes of getting a better price for its shares in a volatile market. But instead of creating a buzz, the underwriters are creating confusion.

China's securities regulator on Saturday released draft prospectuses for a small group of companies planning to list, in a move that may soothe investor concerns that the country had put in place a de facto freeze on IPOs.

China's CITIC Pacific has agreed to buy the main operating unit of its parent, state-backed CITIC Group, for $36.5 billion in a stock and cash deal aimed at diversifying its metals and mining business.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is expected to file the prospectus for its U.S. initial public offering next week, sources said on Wednesday, moving closer to what could be the biggest ever listing by a technology firm.

Initial public offerings (IPO) on China's mainland stock exchanges may restart sooner than expected, state media reported on Wednesday, after the securities regulator ordered underwriters to update application material for firms waiting to list.

Jumei International Holding Ltd, backed by venture-capital firm Sequoia Capital, filed with U.S. regulators on Friday to raise up to $400 million in an initial public offering of American Depositary Shares.

Chinese pork giant WH Group Ltd launched on Thursday a Hong Kong initial public offering of up to $5.3 billion, the second-biggest ever IPO by a food and beverage company.