Hong Kong's bourse operator reported a 3% decline in first-half profits, attributed to sluggish trading conditions and subdued listing activities. Despite this downturn, the exchange expressed cautious optimism for the remainder of the year as activities in the second quarter showed signs of improvement. Additionally, the Hang Seng Tech Index experienced a significant drop of over 3%, reflecting ongoing weak market sentiment in the region. The overall performance of the Hong Kong Exchange highlights the challenges faced by the market amid a challenging economic environment.