China CITIC Bank International yesterday reported that its profit, attributable to ordinary shareholders, rose to HK$1.053 billion (around $136 million) in the first half of 2013, a 16.4 per cent year-on-year gain.

Total deposits rose 1.6 per cent over the reporting period to HK147.3 billion. The net interest margin rose by 45 basis points year-on-year to 1.74 per cent, the firm said in a statement. Net interest income rose by 32.9 per cent to HK1.46 billion; operating income rose 19.9 per cent to HK2.243 billion, the bank said.

Within the personal and business banking group, operating income rose 12 per cent to HK766 billion; net interest income rose 20 per cent to HK528 million.