Singapore's OCBC says 2024 targets on track after Q3 profit beat

Reuters

Singapore's OCBC says 2024 targets on track after Q3 profit beat

2024 11월 7, 오후 11:09 GMT

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Q3 net profit rises to S$1.97 bln vs S$1.91 bln analyst estimate

Net interest margin 2.18% in Q3 vs 2.27% a year earlier

Return on equity climbs to 14.1% in Q3 from 14.0% a year prior

Wealth management AUM up 5% on year to S$284 bln

Adds CEO comments, earnings detail, context throughout

By Yantoultra Ngui

SINGAPORE, Nov 8 (Reuters) -Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp OCBC.SI said it was firmly placed to achieve its 2024 targets after posting on Friday a 9% rise in third-quarter net profit that beat market expectations.

Southeast-Asia's second-largest lender by assets after compatriot DBS DBSM.SI said July-September net profit increased to S$1.97 billion ($1.49 billion) from S$1.81 billion a year earlier, beating the mean estimate of nearly S$1.91 billion from analysts polled by LSEG.

OCBC said it was set to achieve full-year net interest margin, a key profitability gauge, at around the 2.20% level, as well as low single-digit loan growth, full-year credit costs in the range of 20 basis points and return on equity above 14%.

"Looking ahead, we will continue to proactively manage our balance sheet to prepare for a lower interest rate environment," said Group CEO Helen Wong in a statement.

"We are closely monitoring potential volatilities arising from uncertain geopolitical conditions," she said.

OCBC's results rounded up a strong third-quarter earnings season by Singapore banks, which have benefited in recent years from higher global interest rates and strong inflows of wealth drawn by the city-state's political stability.

Both local peers DBS and United Overseas Bank UOBH.SI posted record quarterly earnings on the back of higher fee income and increased markets trading income.

OCBC's improved performance was also driven by increased wealth management activity that lifted fee and trading income, in addition to higher insurance income and lower allowances.

Net interest margin was however lower at 2.18% during the quarter from 2.27% a year earlier, a trend similar with DBS and UOB too.

OCBC's return on equity rose slightly to 14.1% in the third quarter from 14.0% in the same period of 2023.

($1 = 1.3201 Singapore dollars)

Reporting by Yantoultra Ngui; Editing by Jamie Freed and Christopher Cushing

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