Swedish banking giants report mixed fortunes
Swedish bank Nordea on Thursday posted falling profits in the second quarter while competitor Handelsbanken announced growing figures for the same period.
Nordea's net profit fell by 11 percent to €686 million ($928 million), compared to €771 million a year earlier.
"Interest rates continue to come down and the general level of economic activity as well as volatility is low," Nordea chief executive Christian Clausen said in a statement.
"We have seen continued strong activity in our savings area and in the corporate advisory business."
Revenue was almost stable at €1.368 billion, compared to €1.391 billion for the same period last year.
"Low loan growth and interest rates also put pressure on our net interest income," Clausen said.
The bank said that its cost-cutting plan was "progressing as planned" and that it expects to see the results by the end of 2014 and onwards.
Nordea said it has saved €300 million since the launch of the cost-reduction measures at the beginning 2013.
The second quarter looked better for Handelsbanken, which posted profits increasing by 9.0 percent compared to a year earlier to 4.034 billion kronor ($590 million).
Revenue reached 6.704 billion kronor, slightly above the 6.653 billion kronor the bank posted in the same period of 2013.
The loan loss ratio was 0.07 percent, the same as last year.
Handelsbanken is Sweden's largest bank in terms of deposits.
Between April and June, its liquidity reserves stayed above 800 billion kronor, as the bank continued its expansion in the British market.
"The bank has decided to establish a fifth regional bank in the UK, with its head office in Leeds," Handelsbanken said in a statement, adding that this would start in the first quarter of 2015.
Comments
See Also
Nordea's net profit fell by 11 percent to €686 million ($928 million), compared to €771 million a year earlier.
"Interest rates continue to come down and the general level of economic activity as well as volatility is low," Nordea chief executive Christian Clausen said in a statement.
"We have seen continued strong activity in our savings area and in the corporate advisory business."
Revenue was almost stable at €1.368 billion, compared to €1.391 billion for the same period last year.
"Low loan growth and interest rates also put pressure on our net interest income," Clausen said.
The bank said that its cost-cutting plan was "progressing as planned" and that it expects to see the results by the end of 2014 and onwards.
Nordea said it has saved €300 million since the launch of the cost-reduction measures at the beginning 2013.
The second quarter looked better for Handelsbanken, which posted profits increasing by 9.0 percent compared to a year earlier to 4.034 billion kronor ($590 million).
Revenue reached 6.704 billion kronor, slightly above the 6.653 billion kronor the bank posted in the same period of 2013.
The loan loss ratio was 0.07 percent, the same as last year.
Handelsbanken is Sweden's largest bank in terms of deposits.
Between April and June, its liquidity reserves stayed above 800 billion kronor, as the bank continued its expansion in the British market.
"The bank has decided to establish a fifth regional bank in the UK, with its head office in Leeds," Handelsbanken said in a statement, adding that this would start in the first quarter of 2015.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.