Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing released better than expected first-half results yesterday, but the bourse is facing a number of challenges, including a suspected hacker attack and volatile markets.
The exchange, which reported a 14 per cent growth in interim profit of HK$2.58 billion during the lunch break, had to suspend trading in the afternoon after its regulatory disclosure website was taken down by what the exchange said was a malicious attack by hackers.
The HKEx and six firms including HSBC Holdings and Cathay Pacific Airways had to suspend trading in the afternoon because their results and transactions announcements, which are posted on the HKEx website, could not be accessed by investors.
It was the most serious technology problem the bourse has faced since the website was launched in 2008. Similar hacker attacks occurred after market close in 2009.
Chief executive Charles Li Xiaojia said he believed few investors would seek compensation as the suspension protected investors from trading the stocks on which the information was not available. The companies are expected to resume trading today after a backup website is set up.
'I cannot guarantee no other problems will occur again, but our IT people will do their best to prevent that from happening,' Li said.