ZTE Corp., China’s second largest telecom gear maker, said Wednesday its unaudited net profit was expected to rise over 50 percent year on year last year, on better-than-expected fourth quarter business.

The profit estimation for 2004 was based on unaudited, preliminary calculations using Chinese accounting standards, the firm said.

ZTE said its net profit in 2003 was 638.7 million yuan (US$77.14 million), based on accounting standards required for shares listed in Hong Kong.

But based on financial data at the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, ZTE had reported a net profit of 752.5 million yuan for 2003.

The company completed an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange late last year, listing Hong Kong dollar-denominated H shares in December. The company also has yuan-denominated A shares traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

ZTE was the first Chinese firm with a domestic, or A-share, listing to issue shares in Hong Kong. Most companies with dual listings proceed to Hong Kong first.

Listed firms in China are required to announce their 2004 financial results by the end of April.

(Shenzhen Daily January 27, 2005)