A bull market in Chinese stocks helped propel trading activity on Hong Kong’s stock exchange to the highest level in its history during the first half of the year, boosting the exchange operator’s bottom line even as its metals trading business had a slight decrease in turnover.

Net profit at Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing rose 73% to 4.1 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$528.2 million) in the first half, allowing the exchange operator to increase its dividend by more than two thirds.