PARIS (Reuters) – Credit Agricole, France’s second-largest listed bank, posted better-than-expected quarterly results on Wednesday, driven by a strong performance of its investment bank and retail activities.
Third-quarter net income jumped 33% from a year earlier to 1.75 billion euros ($1.87 billion), above the 1.37 billion-euro average of analyst estimates compiled by the company.
Group revenues for the period came in at 6.34 billion euros, up 19% from a year earlier and also above expectations of 5.99 billion euros. The amount set aside by the bank for failing loans was also below expectations, at 439 million euros, boosting its bottom line.
The listed entity of Credit Agricole Group, controlled by 39 French mutual banks, said revenues from its corporate and investment bank division rose by more than 9% over the period, propelled notably by a 25.6% jump in trading in fixed-income, currencies and commodities (FICC).
Credit Agricole performance on that front was better than that of its two French rivals, Societe Generale and BNP Paribas, as well as of Deutsche Bank and Barclays, as less volatile financial markets dented investment banks’ earnings.
Sales from the French retail banking division remained almost stable, edging up 0.4% in the third quarter, as it gained more customers, stabilised net interest margin and benefited from hedging contracts.
The net interest margin generated in Italy jumped by 48%, as higher interest rates are more quickly passed on to customers than in France, where almost all mortgages are signed on a fixed rate basis and where the government determines the remuneration of the country’s most popular savings account, thus squeezing margins for banks.
Credit Agricole controls Europe’s largest fund manager Amundi and recently announced its plan to acquire Belgium’s wealth management firm Degroof Petercam.
($1 = 0.9361 euros)
(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Additional reporting by Augustin Turpin; Editing by Silvia Aloisi)
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.
The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was little changed in late-morning trading as the financial sector fell, but energy and base metal stocks moved higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.05 of a point at 24,224.95.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 94.31 points at 42,417.69. The S&P 500 index was down 10.91 points at 5,781.13, while the Nasdaq composite was down 29.59 points at 18,262.03.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.71 cents US compared with 73.05 cents US on Wednesday.
The November crude oil contract was up US$1.69 at US$74.93 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up a penny at US$2.67 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$14.70 at US$2,640.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up two cents at US$4.42 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.
