"We are delighted to see ongoing momentum...we continue to feel good about our growth prospects in Hong Kong," he said. Besides disclosing earnings, Wadhwani announced a strategy that included "targeted investment in structural growth markets" across Asia and Africa. Prudential's annualised premium equivalent (APE) sales, a closely watched gauge of insurance sales, rose 37% to $3 billion on a stronger pickup in sales from Chinese mainland visitors to Hong Kong. Prudential said APE sales in Hong Kong rose more than four times in the first half, and business generated from Chinese mainland visitors enjoyed a "significant increase" following the opening of the border. Reporting by Sumeet Chatterjee in Hong Kong and Carolyn Cohn in London; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Simon Dawson, Prudential's, Anil Wadhwani, Wadhwani, Sumeet Chatterjee, Carolyn Cohn, Christopher Cushing, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Prudential, REUTERS, Prudential PLC, Jefferies, China, Hong Kong, AIA, HK, Consumers, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, HONG KONG, Asia, Hong Kong, Hong, Africa, Hong Kong . Hong Kong, China