HKEX to accelerate listing drive, reforms after profit rises 36% on strong turnover and IPOs
Net profit in 2025 rises to HK$17.75 billion (US$2.28 billion), beating market expectations
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) will roll out a broad package of market reforms aimed at attracting more international listings and expanding into fixed income, commodities and other asset classes over the coming years, its CEO said on Thursday.
Bonnie Chan Yiting, approaching the end of her first two years as CEO at HKEX – which operates Asia’s third-largest stock exchange – outlined the strategy as the exchange reported a second consecutive year of record annual profit, driven by stronger trading turnover and buoyant listing activity.
Net profit in 2025 increased 36 per cent to HK$17.75 billion (US$2.28 billion), or HK$14.05 per share, from HK$13 billion a year earlier, which was also a record. The result beat market expectations of HK$17.44 billion.
The bourse operator proposed a second interim dividend of HK$6.52 per share, bringing the total to HK$12.52 for the year, versus HK$9.26 in 2024, and maintaining the payout at 90 per cent of earnings.
Net profit in the final three months of 2025 also jumped 15 per cent to HK$4.34 billion, from HK$3.78 billion a year earlier. This also beat the market estimate at HK$3.8 billion.
“In summary, our 2025 financial results were characterised by record trading volumes, discipline, cost management and the successful execution of our strategy,” Chan said at a post-results briefing on Thursday. “Looking ahead to 2026, we have started the year strongly, both in terms of turnover and our initial public offering pipeline.”