The directors have declared an interim dividend of $0.08 per share. The share register will be closed from 9 to 11 October 2000 inclusive, and dividend warrants will be sent to shareholders on or about 12 October.
Average daily turnover value on the stock market rose by 134 per cent to $14.8 billion in the period January to June 2000, compared to the first six months of 1999, while average daily trading volume on the futures market fell by 36 per cent to 19,223 contracts.
Group turnover for the first half of the year was $1,227 million, up 50 per cent from a year ago, and operating expenses fell by one per cent to $600 million.
"The process of integrating the businesses of the Group's subsidiaries will continue in the second half of the current financial year," said Charles Lee, HKEx chairman. "As a substantial part of the Group's income is from transaction levy, clearing and settlement fees and interest income on margin funds, the results for the second six months of the current financial year will be highly dependent on the level of activity on the Stock Exchange and Futures Exchange," Mr Lee said.
"HKEx made good progress during the first six months of its financial year as Hong Kong's economy continued to improve after some two years of recession," said Kwong Ki-chi, HKEx chief executive.
"The economic forecasts for Hong Kong, and internationally, are generally positive," Mr Kwong noted. "These give cause for feeling reasonably optimistic about HKEx's results for the whole year."
Highlights of the interim results announcement have been sent with this news release and the complete interim results announcement is available on the HKEx website: http://www.hkex.com.hk.
