Shares of United Company Rusal (0486) surged by up to 4.5 percent yesterday after adjusted profit in the first half soared 24.5 percent from a year back.
Rusal closed 3.6 percent higher at HK$8.29.
The Russian aluminum producer booked US$556 million (HK$4.33 billion) in adjusted net profit - a measurement of profit that excludes costs of servicing debts, shrinking returns from shares in Norilsk Nickel and investment revaluations.
However, including the above factors, net profit fell 20.5 percent to US$1.09 billion - or seven US cents per share. The firm has managed to reduce its debt by US$1.67 billion through various restructuring exercises.
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"The last six months have seen the group make significant strides in refinancing its debt ahead of schedule with new facilities," said chief executive Oleg Deripaska, who expects the global aluminum industry to be volatile in the medium term.