Higher earnings at its banking and investment services divisions helped Asia Financial Holdings lift its net profit to HK$175.1 million, an increase of 18.3 per cent from a year earlier.
Attributable profit at the group's investment services arm rose 237 per cent from a year earlier to HK$60.7 million.
Group deputy managing director Bernard Charnwut Chan said the increase was partly attributable to the sale of shares in Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, which generated an exceptional gain.
At Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), the group's banking division, attributable profit increased 63.3 per cent to HK$52.88 million.
ACB executive director and general manager Stephen Tan said the bank was able to achieve a 10 per cent increase in loans despite fierce competition on the market.
Last year, loans and advances at ACB amounted to HK$7.68 billion. Customer deposits were up 5 per cent from a year earlier to HK$11.23 billion, resulting in a loan-to-deposit ratio of 63.1 per cent.
Provision for bad and doubtful debts decreased 14.2 per cent to HK$94.04 million.