Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing reported a 31% bounce in internet revenue for the primary six months of the 12 months, in comparison with a 12 months in the past — and its CEO has expressed optimism concerning the medium-term outlook.

The sturdy numbers are attributed to the HKEX’s “diversification away from simply the money enterprise” and the “great” development of its ETF franchise, CEO Nicolas Aguzin advised CNBC’s Emily Tan on Wednesday. He added that the trade additionally benefited from the rise in rates of interest.

HKEX’s half-year internet revenue jumped to six.31 billion Hong Kong {dollars} ($806.6 million) from HK$4.84 billion a 12 months in the past, boosted by the “strong development” in its derivatives market, the trade mentioned in its press launch.

Income from its core companies rose to HK$9.73 billion within the January to June interval, up 5% year-on-year.

Aguzin acknowledged that buyers are in an “atmosphere of warning” proper now, with geopolitics being one of many components. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism for the trade’s close to time period outlook, on hopes of decrease inflation numbers and extra stimulus from China.

“We’re fairly optimistic concerning the medium time period provided that we have seen slightly bit extra predictability by way of the course of inflation, [with] inflation coming down,” he mentioned, including he is looking forward to “extra stimulus that has been introduced from the mainland.”

China unexpectedly reduce charges this week in a bid to prop up the flailing economic system. The highest management has pledged stimulus measures to help particular sectors, promote investments and enhance shopper confidence.

In the meantime, there are indicators that world inflation is lastly coming down. The U.S. shopper worth index climbed 3.2% from a 12 months in the past in July, an indication that inflation has misplaced a minimum of a few of its grip on the U.S. economic system.

When requested about Hong Kong’s standing as a capital elevating hub by way of the rankings for its IPOs, Aguzin mentioned: “We’re the long run and alternative.”

Hong Kong’s inventory market was among the many worst-performing in 2022, shedding 15% that 12 months.

“We’re already a market for brand spanking new economic system [companies], there’s over 110 corporations proper now which are ready to go to the market, they usually’re ready for … the suitable market sentiment to have the ability to try this,” the CEO mentioned.