CICC published a report stating that the trading of products on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is active, which has driven the improvement of second-quarter performance. Total revenue in the second quarter increased by 8% year-on-year to HKD 5.42 billion. Excluding investment income, revenue from the main business expenses increased by 10% year-on-year to HKD 4.22 billion. Profit increased by 9% year-on-year to HKD 3.16 billion. Accumulated total revenue in the first half of the year remained basically flat year-on-year at HKD 10.62 billion, while profit decreased by 3% year-on-year to HKD 6.13 billion, which is in line with the bank's expectations.
The bank pointed out that the current stock price of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is 24 times the forecasted PE ratio for 2024 and 22 times the forecasted PE ratio for 2025. The bank has lowered its assumptions for daily average trading volume and investment income of Hong Kong stocks, and has also lowered its profit forecast for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the next two years to HKD 12.2 billion and HKD 12.9 billion, respectively, a 3% decrease. The bank has also lowered the target price by 3% to HKD 300, corresponding to a target PE ratio of 31 times and 29 times for 2024 and 2025, respectively, while maintaining its "outperform the industry" rating.