Cici Cao

Shares of Hang Seng Bank (0011) once fell below 7 percent after the lender revealed its net profit beat market expectations but kept its interim dividend unchanged.

The bank reported a net profit of HK$18.38 billion in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 3 percent, versus the market estimate up to HK$17.68 billion, thanks to significant growth in non-interest income among diversified income sources.

It kept its interim dividend for the latter half of the year at HK$3.20 per share, the same as that for the corresponding period in 2023.