MOSCOW: Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, said on Wednesday it made a net profit of 185.6 billion roubles ($3.14 billion) in the second quarter, posting a record quarterly result and beating analysts’ forecasts. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast Sberbank would make 167.4 billion roubles in net profit in April-June.
Sberbank said its net interest income increased to 357.6 billion roubles in the second quarter from 339.3 billion roubles a year ago, while return-on-capital was at 24.8 percent versus 22.8 percent a year ago. Alexander Morozov, deputy chief executive of the bank, said in a statement that results were supported by growth in lending, stable margins and an increase in commission income. The bank’s loan book grew by 4.7 percent from the first quarter. Provisions against bad loans declined to 89.1 billion roubles in April-June from 96.5 billion roubles in the same period of 2016. Sberbank shares were up by about 1 percent in early trade on Wednesday, compared with the broader MICEX index which was flat.
