Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd.'s first-half net profit jumped 44% year over year on the back of higher trading and clearing fees and listing fees.

The exchange operator said profit attributable to its shareholders for the six months to June 30 rose to HK$5.04 billion from HK$3.49 billion in the prior-year period. EPS increased to HK$4.06 from HK$2.85.

The exchange operator partly attributed the increase in profit to higher trading and clearing fees driven by increases in cash market turnover and derivatives market volume. Higher listing fees from an increase in newly listed securities also helped boost the profit.

Trading fees and trading tariff climbed to HK$3.33 billion from HK$2.18 billion, while clearing and settlement fees increased to HK$1.75 billion from HK$1.22 billion. Stock exchange listing fees rose to HK$855 million from HK$593 million in the prior-year period.

EBITDA grew year over year to HK$6.28 billion from HK$4.49 billion. EBITDA excludes the group's share of results in its joint ventures.

Operating profit increased to HK$5.90 billion from HK$4.13 billion.

Meanwhile, the group's operating expenses increased to HK$1.92 billion from HK$1.71 billion.

The average daily turnover value of equity products traded on the stock exchange surged to a record high of HK$100.4 billion from HK$61.4 billion, while the average daily turnover value of derivative warrants, callable bull/bear contracts and warrants increased to HK$26.2 billion from HK$14.6 billion. The average daily turnover value traded on the exchange totaled HK$126.6 billion, up from HK$76 billion in the prior-year period.

Further, the exchange operator raised its interim dividend for the six-month period to HK$3.64 per share from HK$2.55 per share for the prior-year period.