News
Interim Report January - September 2008
2008-10-23
Strong results in extreme market conditions
- Income EUR 5,949m (EUR 5,744m in the first nine months 2007), up 4%
- Net interest income EUR 3,707m (EUR 3,139m), up 18%
- Cost increase in line with target 6.5%
- Profit before loan losses EUR 2,761m (EUR 2,751m)
- Loan losses EUR 146m (positive EUR 54m), a loan loss ratio of 8 basis points
- Operating profit EUR 2,615m (EUR 2,805m), down 7%
- No reclassification made of interest-bearing securities
- Unchanged risk-adjusted profit EUR 1,795m (EUR 1,798m) - but up 5% in customer areas
- Return on equity 15.7% (19.5%)
- Earnings per share EUR 0.78 (EUR 0.87)
- Tier 1 ratio 7.9% (7.9%), excluding transition rules
- Nordea expects unchanged risk-adjusted profit for the full year compared to last year (for full outlook for 2008, see page 8)
- Continued strength in customer areas
- Continued support of customers - lending up 14%
- Increased margins on corporate lending and household mortgages
- Continued funding strength - despite market stress
- Strong and well-diversified credit portfolio
- Total deposits up 13%, annualised growth in the third quarter 16%
- Customer-driven capital markets activities performing well
- High profit growth in New European Markets
"I am pleased that Nordea can once again report strong quarterly results despite the extreme developments in the financial markets. Our customer areas and growth initiatives continue to deliver as planned and our profitability is maintained at a high level. Uncertainty and risks, however, have increased significantly both in the financial markets and about the macroeconomic development. Nevertheless, we are confident and well prepared with strong profitability, high quality in the credit portfolio and a diversified funding base to face the times of weakening economic activity. I therefore believe that we are well positioned to outperform the market also going forward", says Christian Clausen, President and Group CEO of Nordea.