Thursday 15 May 2014

Sri Lanka's Bank of Ceylon profits down 1.9-pct, cushioned by loss reversals

May 15, 2014 (LBO) - Profits at Sri Lanka's state-run Bank of Ceylon group fell 1.9 percent from a year earlier to 2.64 billion rupees in the March 2014 quarter with loan loss reversals and trading gains, offsetting flat net interest income.

Group interest income rose 2.0 percent to 27.9 billion rupees and interest expenses rose at a slower 1.8 percent to 19.0 billion rupees helping net interest income grow 2.6 percent to 8.9 billion rupees.

Sri Lanka's is recovering from a balance of payments crisis and interest rates are falling. Though most segments of loans grew, the bank cut back is gold backed loans or pawning advances after gold prices fell.

Loans and advances to customers rose to 755 billion rupees by end March from 746 billion rupees in December with financial investments - loans and receivables falling to 125 billion rupees from 130 billion rupees.

The bank reduced gold backed loans or pawning advances to 121 billion rupees from 131 billion rupees.

Overdrafts rose to 146 billion rupees from 117 billion rupees and term loans rose to 114 billion rupees from 107 billion rupees.

The group reversed 3.5 billion rupees in loss provisions. At standalone bank level, gross non performing loans rose to 5.42 percent of risk weighted assets from 4.32 percent in December.

Financial investments held-to-maturity rose to 206 billion rupees from 157 billion rupees.

Fees and commission income rose 26 percent to 1.7 billion rupees.

Gains from trading rose 78 percent to 1.0 billion rupees and gains from financial investments surged to 1.89 billion rupees from 108 million rupees a year earlier.

Group gross assets rose to 1.267 billion rupees in March from 1,225 billion in December. At standalone bank level, gross assets rose to 1,228 billion rupees from 1,193 billion rupees.

Capital adequacy increased to 12.25 percent from 12.10 percent.

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