Hong Kong securities industry posts $6.58 billion first-half profit on record transactions

The Hong Kong securities industry posted a net profit of HK$51.7 billion ($6.59 billion) in the first half of 2026, up 21% from the second half of last year, the city’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced on Tuesday. The increase was an even larger 79% year-on-year, based on the HK$28.9 billion reported for the same period last year.

Securities brokers logged total transaction value of a record HK$149 trillion in the first half of the year, up 24% from the second half of 2025 and an increase of about 50% from HK$99.2 trillion a year earlier. Robust trading activity, growing investor participation and lower expenses supported the growth.

The number of active clients increased 10% from the second half of 2025 to around 5.7 million at the end of June. Trading commission and interest income rose 13% sequentially to HK$45.4 billion, partly offsetting a 21% decline in asset management-related fee income to HK$24.4 billion. Total industry revenue remained broadly stable, while overhead and interest expenses fell 2%.

Eric Yip, the SFC’s executive director of intermediaries, attributed the stronger profits to increased trading activity and higher investor participation. He said the regulator will continue working with the industry to strengthen risk management, operational resilience and conduct standards to reinforce investor confidence.

By Lee Shih Ta

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