Hong Kong Bourse Reports Drop in Quarterly Profit as IPOs Slow

(Bloomberg) — Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd., the world’s largest exchange by market value, reported a drop in profit in the second quarter as a boom in initial public offerings and trading at the start of the year waned.

Net income fell to HK$2.77 billion ($356 million), compared with HK$2.97 billion a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations from the first-half financial statement. Profit rose 26% in the first six months.

“The macro backdrop will remain challenging in the months ahead, but we remain resolutely focused on continuing to enhance the attractiveness of our markets, responding to the needs of our customers and driving our business forward,” Chief Executive Officer Nicolas Aguzin said in his debut earnings statement since taking the job in May.

After a boom in IPOs and trading over the past year, activity slowed in the second quarter, raising investor concerns over the bourse’s outlook for the rest of the year. The city’s first stamp-duty hike since 1993, which contributed to a selloff in Hong Kong’s $6.5 trillion market and sent HKEX shares tumbling earlier this year, also took effect this month.

In the second quarter, new share sales raised a total of HK$74.8 billion on the exchange, a 4% drop from a year earlier, the bourse said. Still average daily turnover reached HK$157.1 billion during the period, up 64% up from a year earlier.

China’s plan to overhaul the way it regulates overseas IPOs as part of broad campaign to tighten oversight of companies such as Didi Global Inc. and ByteDance Ltd. may benefit Hong Kong. Beijing plans to exempt companies going public in Hong Kong from first seeking approval from the country’s cybersecurity regulator, removing one hurdle for businesses to sell shares in the Asian financial hub instead of the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter.

HKEX shares of rose 0.4% to close at HK$517.5 Wednesday. The stock has gained 22% this year, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng Index. Analysts had an average 12-month target price of HK$544.88, implying an upside of 5.3%.

Contact editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)

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