An increase in investment services income and steady growth in its retail banking business helped Asia Financial Holdings report a first half rise in attributable profit of 21 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Attributable profit for the six months to June was $173.8 million, up from $143.7 million last year. The group's earnings per share were 21.9 cents, up from the previous 20.1 cents.
An interim dividend of 6.8 cents will be paid, higher than last June's 6.1 cents.
Chairman Robin Chan Yao-hing said the stock market's robust performance during the period boosted the investment services division's profit to $25 million, compared with $900,000 a year ago.
Asia Financial Securities managing director Philip Lo King-yan said Asian stock markets had more or less reached a floor after plunging for weeks as a result of currency speculation.
About half of the division's profit came from brokerage commissions while corporate finance fee income contributed another 20 per cent.
