[DigitalToday reporter Sangyeop Oh (오상엽)] Hana Securities disclosed on April 24 that its consolidated first-quarter operating profit was 141.6 billion won and net profit was 103.3 billion won. Operating profit rose 47.9 percent from a year earlier and net profit increased 37.1 percent.

First-quarter operating profit amounted to about 85 percent of last year's full-year operating profit of 166.5 billion won. First-quarter revenue was 8.67 trillion won, up about 138 percent from 3.65 trillion won a year earlier.

Hana Securities explained that it sustained strong earnings by responding in a timely manner across business divisions in a volatile market environment.

The wealth management (WM) division said higher fee income from a stock market boom and an expanded financial product profit, supported by product supply tailored to rising markets, were effective.

The investment banking (IB) division explained that it improved performance by focusing on quality deals and delivered results in the acquisition finance business. The sales and trading (S&T) division said it maintained its lead in issuance of derivative-linked securities and focused on risk management amid market volatility stemming from rapidly changing international developments.

A Hana Securities official said, "We secured stable growth momentum by expanding the earnings base of key business divisions." The official added, "We will strengthen competitiveness through new businesses such as short-term notes, while also making every effort to expand productive finance, including supplying venture capital."