Shares of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388) edged down despite having announced that it achieved a record high revenue and net profit last year amid improved market sentiment.
The bourse operator posted a 10 percent rise in net profit to HK$13.05 billion during the period.
It declared an interim dividend of HK$4.90, up 25 percent from 12 months ago, resulting in a 10 percent rise in the full-year dividend to HK$9.26.
Revenue and other income amounted to HK$22.37 billion while its core business revenue came to HK$20.56 billion, both achieving 9 percent growth.
In 2024, HKEX’s average daily turnover of Stock Connect set new records, with ADT of northbound and southbound at 150.1 billion yuan (HK$160.72 billion) and HK$48.2 billion, respectively, up 39 percent and 55 percent.
Net profit in the fourth quarter reached HK$3.78 billion, up 46 percent from the same period in 2023 and a record for the company's fourth-quarter profits historically.
Revenue and other income for that period climbed 31 percent to HK$6.38 billion, a quarterly record high.
In the quarter, the operator’s ADT of equities products surged 1.13 times to HK$171.5 billion.
HKEX chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing said the company continued to make progress in its strategic imperatives, including connecting China with the world and strengthening global and regional connectivity.
Its chief executive Bonnie Chan Yi-ting said the bourse operator has launched multiyear infrastructure enhancement programs and witnessed fresh trading records under an improved macro backdrop.
HKEX's shares dipped 0.61 percent to HK$359.
STAFF REPORTER
The company broke revenue and net profit records in 2024. SING TAO
