BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd., (601988.SH) the largest Hong Kong-based lender, advanced the most in more than two years in Hong Kong trading after reporting a record first- half profit yesterday.

The stock advanced 7.3 percent to HK$20.95, the most since June 10, 2009, as of 9:50 a.m. local time. The stock is the second-best performing member of Hang Seng Index (HSI) so far today.

The bank, a unit of Bank of China Ltd. (03988.HK), said first-half net income rose 67 percent to HK$12 billion ($1.5 billion), beating the HK$10.4 billion average of seven analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg News.