HANG SENG BANK(00011)2024-08-19 08:34Financial Performance - Net operating income before expected credit loss changes and other credit impairment provisions increased to HKD 20,431 million, up from HKD 19,940 million year-on-year, representing a growth of 2.5%[3] - Profit before tax rose to HKD 11,307 million, compared to HKD 10,961 million in the previous year, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.2%[3] - The bank's net interest income for the first half of 2024 increased by 2% year-on-year to HKD 15.48 billion, with a net interest margin improvement of 20 basis points to 2.29%[10] - The bank's pre-tax profit increased by 3% year-on-year to HKD 11.31 billion, while net profit attributable to shareholders rose by 1% to HKD 9.89 billion[12] - Total operating income net of expected credit loss changes was HKD 18,931 million, an increase from HKD 18,016 million year-over-year, representing a growth of 5.1%[133] - The company reported a profit for the period of HKD 9,888 million, slightly up from HKD 9,822 million in the previous year, indicating a growth of 0.7%[133] Customer Growth and Engagement - The number of new affluent customers increased by 147% year-on-year, while new private banking accounts grew by 15%[6] - Active retail customers engaging in investment transactions rose by 41% year-on-year, driven by the launch of the "Wealth Master" feature[22] - The affluent customer base grew by 14% year-on-year, with newly acquired affluent customers increasing by 147%[21] - The number of new accounts opened by mainland customers increased by 166% year-on-year, reflecting the demand for wealth management services in the Greater Bay Area[21] Asset and Liability Management - The bank's total assets increased to HKD 1,708,453 million, up from HKD 1,692,094 million year-on-year[3] - Customer deposits rose by 2%, driven primarily by growth in time deposits[10] - Total liabilities increased to HKD 1,542,086 million from HKD 1,523,910 million[136] - The bank's equity decreased by HKD 2 billion, or 1%, to HKD 166 billion, impacted by a slight reduction in retained earnings[28] Non-Interest Income - The bank's non-interest income grew by 4% year-on-year, with retail investment fund fee income increasing by 20% and insurance services rising by 16%[6] - Non-interest income grew by 4%, mainly due to increased trading activities and retail investment fund performance[13] - Net service fee income decreased by HKD 102 million, or 4%, to HKD 2.564 billion, primarily due to a decline in credit facilitation service fees offsetting a 20% increase in retail investment fund income[15] Credit Risk and Provisions - The non-performing loan ratio increased to 5.32%, but the impact on financial performance is minimal due to collateral backing most loans[6] - The expected credit loss provisions decreased by 22% to HKD 1.5 billion, reflecting improved credit quality in the commercial real estate loan portfolio[10] - Total impaired loans increased from HKD 25 billion to HKD 46 billion, with the impaired loan ratio rising from 2.83% to 5.32%[17] - The expected credit loss provisions for customer loans as of June 30, 2024, amount to 13,633 million on December 31, 2023[42] Capital and Risk Management - The bank's total capital ratio stood at 19.7% as of June 30, 2024, indicating a strong capital position to withstand unforeseen risks[10] - The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio decreased to 16.6% as of June 30, 2024, down from 18.1% at the end of 2023, indicating a reduction in capital adequacy[102] - The company continues to monitor and identify risks, with key risks including credit risk, market risk, and regulatory compliance risk[29] - The risk management framework emphasizes the importance of safeguarding clients, business, employees, shareholders, and the community while supporting strategic growth[31] Dividends and Shareholder Returns - The bank declared a second interim dividend of HKD 1.20 per share, totaling HKD 2.40 per share for the first half of 2024, representing a 9% increase compared to the same period last year[9] - The bank's total shareholder return, including a share buyback plan of HKD 3 billion, reached HKD 7.6 billion, an 80% increase year-on-year[9] - The company announced a share buyback program of up to HKD 3 billion, expected to be completed by September 2024, with HKD 1 billion remaining as of June 30, 2024[138] Economic Outlook - The GDP growth rate for Hong Kong is projected to be 2.9% in 2024, while for mainland China it is expected to be 4.9%[53] - The unemployment rate is anticipated to remain at 3.0% for Hong Kong and rise slightly to 5.2% for mainland China in 2024[53] - Housing prices in Hong Kong are expected to decline by an average of 8.7% in 2024, while mainland China is projected to see a decrease of 5.7%[53] - The consensus downside scenario highlights risks from geopolitical tensions, which could lead to inflation and interest rate increases, potentially causing a global recession[56] Operational Efficiency - Operating expenses increased by HKD 367 million, or 5%, to HKD 7.523 billion, driven by higher processing service fees and continued investment in digital capabilities[17] - The cost-to-income ratio increased by 0.9 percentage points to 36.8% for the first half of 2024[18] - The company reported a total of HKD 7,523 million in expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to HKD 7,156 million for the same period in 2023, reflecting a growth of 5.1%[155] Digital Transformation and Innovation - The bank is actively promoting digital transformation and green development through partnerships, including the establishment of an innovation lab for SMEs[8] - The bank's digital platform enhancements led to a 172% year-on-year increase in investment account openings via mobile devices[22] - The bank launched a HKD 33 billion SME Power Up financing fund to support the growth and digital transformation of SMEs[7]