[ET Net News Agency, 8 November 2019] Asia Standard Hotel Group Limited (00292) said
the group is expected to record a significant increase in profit attributable to
shareholders of the company for the six months ended 30 September 2019 as compared to the
same period of last year.
This was mainly attributable to a significant increase in operating profits from
financial investments primarily due to more interest income from an enlarged portfolio of
debt securities, and to a net gain on investments in financial assets as opposed to a net
loss for the same period of last year. This was partially offset by (i) a decrease in
gross profit from the group's hotel operation amidst the much weakened sentiment in
tourism caused by the local social unrests during the period, and (ii) a higher finance
costs from increased market interest rates and bank borrowings. (RC)