Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing's profit attributable to shareholders surged to $2.52 billion last year, up 88% on 2005, with the total dividend per share at $2.13.

According to its final results published today, HKEx's income rose 54% to $4.15 billion, while operating expenses grew 6% to $1.21 billion, resulting in an operating profit of about $2.94 billion.

The basic earnings per share was $2.37, up 88% on a year earlier. The interim dividend per share was 94 cents and the final dividend per share was $1.19, totalling $2.13 per share, up 88% when compared with $1.13 in 2005. The dividend per ratio was 90%.

Last year also saw an average daily turnover value of $33.9 billion on the Stock Exchange, up 85%.