HKEX reports record revenue and profit for 1H 2026

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) on Wednesday announced interim results for January to June 2026, reporting record revenue and profit in the period.

Core business revenue grew 19% over 1H 2025, reflecting record volumes across the cash, derivatives and commodities markets.

Speaking on a results call on Wednesday, Bonnie Chan (pictured), chief executive officer of HKEX, said that HKEX’s diversification strategy continues to deliver as the exchange builds upon its derivatives and commodities segment, as shown by record highs in trading volume.

In addition to highlighting recently launched China Government Bond futures, Chan also emphasised HKEX’s broadened commodities franchise, particularly with USD gold futures activity reaching repeated new highs and the collaboration between LME and Shanghai Futures Exchange to launch a steel hot-rolled coil contract, helping international participants to access China-linked benchmarks for trading and risk management.

Chan emphasised the importance of HKEX's multi-asset platform and sees it a core part of its long-term strategy as it builds on its strength in equities.

“Because of the renewed investor interest in Hong Kong, we owe it to them to put more products on our shelf, including fixed income and currencies, as well as commodities, indices and data,” said Chan.

On extension of trading hours, Chan said that the derivatives market will be prioritised.

“It’s currently open until 3am and we’re capable of extending that and see the merit of doing so,” she said. “By extending trading hours for just a couple of hours, we can pick up investors in the US market by overlapping with the opening of the US market.”

Amid an active market environment, with notable increases in trading volumes of stock options and Hang Seng TECH Index Futures and Options, ADV of derivatives contracts on HKEX reached a record half-yearly high of 1,809,449 contracts, up 6% compared with 1H 2025.

ADV of derivatives contracts traded on the futures exchange in 1H 2026 reached 867,000 contracts, up 4% year-over-year.

ADV of stock options contracts traded on the stock exchange totalled 942,000 contracts in 1H 2026, up 9% year-over-year.

The aggregate ADV of the four products in the Hang Seng TECH Index suite reached 231,706 contracts in 1H 2026, up 37% compared with 1H 2025.

The mini-index options segment also showed solid growth during 1H 2026, reflecting increasing participation of retail investors. The ADV of Mini-HSI Options reached 17,691 contracts in 1H 2026, up 29% compared with 1H 2025.

The stock options market sustained its growth momentum in 1H 2026, with ADV of stock options reaching a record half-yearly high of 942,162 contracts, 9% higher than 1H 2025.

Weekly stock options continued to deliver strong growth in 1H 2026, supported by robust demand for short-dated trading. Aggregate ADV of weekly stock options reached 153,513 contracts in 1H 2026, representing an 80% increase compared with 1H 2025.

During 1H 2026, 17 new weekly stock options were introduced, expanding product coverage across the consumer discretionary, gold, electric vehicles and biotechnology sectors.

For the equity and financial derivatives segment, futures exchange derivatives trading fees rose by 3% compared to 1H 2025 to HK$732 million (£68 million), in line with the increase in the number of derivatives contracts traded.

Trading tariffs of stock options contracts increased by 23% to $343 million compared to 1H 2025, due to an increase in ADV of stock options, and a higher average fee per contract in 1H 2026, attributable to more active trading of options with a higher fee tier.

For the commodities segment, revenue and other income was 32% higher than 1H 2025, attributable to higher fees across all fee types following increased market activity and fee tariff increases.

Both LME trading fees and LME Clear clearing fees were up 27% compared with 1H 2025, reflecting an 18% increase in chargeable ADV of metals contracts traded, and increase in fee tariffs effective January 1 2026.

Driven by increased volatility in global metals market, the LME business recorded strong growth in trading activity in 1H 2026, with chargeable ADV in 1H 2026 reaching a record half-yearly high of 844,000 lots, up 18% from 1H 2025.

HKEX's board of directors has approved the renewal of the employment contract of chief executive Bonnie Chan for a further three-year term from March 1, 2027 to February 28, 2030.

HKEX has added a fresh phase of single stock options listings in August, as the exchange looks to grow the segment.