Bank of China (03988) saw its share price rally over 5% during the morning trading session, with the stock climbing 5.11% to HK$5.865 at the time of writing. Trading volume reached HK$1.753 billion, reflecting robust investor interest following the release of its interim results.

The lender posted first-half revenue of RMB 357.113 billion, marking an 8.41% year-on-year increase, while net profit attributable to shareholders rose 5.1% to RMB 123.594 billion. This earnings growth rate places Bank of China at the forefront among the six major state-owned commercial banks.

A key highlight of the performance report is a 10.2% surge in net interest income during the first half, supported by a stabilizing net interest margin that improved by one basis point year-on-year to 1.27%. The board has declared an interim dividend of RMB 1.190 per ten shares (pre-tax) for 2026.

According to Huatai Securities, the standout achievements in this earnings release include the steady recovery of the net interest margin and accelerated net interest income growth driven by expanding loan volumes, which together boosted revenue and pre-provision operating profit momentum. The bank's continued strength in wealth management and custodian services, alongside improved asset quality in both corporate and overseas segments, underpins its diversified growth. With its globalized and integrated operational strategy becoming increasingly entrenched, Huatai maintains its "Accumulate/Buy" rating on both A-shares and H-shares of Bank of China.