SHANGHAI: Securities firms are likely to post better performance in the second half of the year even as they attempt to generate income from diversified channels and are turning more cautious in their capital market operations, according to a market analyst.

"Most of the securities firms have reported solid profit growth in the first half, but it is more important for them to lock in these profits in the second half also," Song Jian, analyst, China Minzu Securities, told China Daily.

Taking advantage of the bullish market in the first half of this year, the 65 securities companies reported a total net profit of 38.6 billion yuan during the period, 30 percent higher than earlier, according to Wind Info.