Hong Kong's bourse operator reported a 10% rise in annual profit, helped by sharp increases in trading turnover and new company listings, and said it was optimistic that a pickup in Chinese economic activity would help its prospects.

Net profit in 2024 rose 10 per cent to HK$13 billion (US$1.7 billion), aided by higher fees from handling market transactions and new stock listings.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing reported full-year profits of HK$13.1bn (US$1.7bn) on Thursday, topping the previous record of HK$12.5bn set in 2021 amid a pandemic-era trading boom. Fourth-quarter profits rose 46 per cent year on year to HK$3.

China's mainland investors have played an unprecedented role in a rally on Hong Kong's equity market that has pushed the benchmark index to its highest level since 2022. Mainland investors typically buy or sell Hong Kong-listed shares via the southbound link of the Stock Connect scheme.