(Yicai) Sept. 4 -- The number of firms listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange allocating interim dividends and their amounts surging in the first half of the year, mainly thanks to improved financial performance.

Of the 2,873 enterprises listed in Shenzhen, 386 have released interim dividend plans worth a total of CNY88.6 billion (USD12.4 billion), according to their semiannual earnings reports. The two figures rose 18 percent and 50 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.

Improved financial performance is a leading driver of dividends. The total operating revenue of Shenzhen-listed firms rose 3.6 percent to CNY10.24 trillion (USD1.43 trillion) in the period, with the cumulative net profit widening 8.9 percent to CNY595.5 billion (USD83.4 billion).

Nearly 80 percent of the companies listed on the SZSE achieved profits. Of them, more than 50 percent recorded year-on-year profit growth, with over 20 percent seeing their profits soar more than 50 percent.

The 1,489 firms listed on the main board of the SZSE reported a total operating revenue of CNY8.19 trillion (USD1.15 trillion) in the first half. Of them, 801 achieved revenue growth from a year earlier, 822 achieved net profit growth, and 571 logged an increase in both revenue and net profit. Ninety-two turned losses into profits.

Industry leaders, such as new energy vehicle giant BYD, home appliance behemoth Midea Group, and power battery titan Contemporary Amperex Technology, achieved operating revenues of more than CNY100 billion (USD14 billion) and net profits exceeding CNY10 billion (USD1.4 billion) in the six months ended June 30.

For example, BYD's operating revenue climbed 23 percent to CNY371.3 billion in the first half from a year earlier, with net profit up 14 percent to CNY15.5 billion, making it the Chinese carmaker with the highest first-half net profit.

There were 55 Shenzhen-listed companies with a market value exceeding CNY100 billion as of Aug. 29.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione