Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

RPT-UPDATE 2-India's State Bank Q1 beats f'cast, ICICI drops

Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:22am IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

(Repeats story from Saturday) (Adds analysts' comments, ICICI comments, details, byline)

By Narayanan Somasundaram

MUMBAI, July 26 (Reuters) - State Bank of India (SBI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) beat forecasts with a 15 percent rise in quarterly profit as other income more than doubled, but its private sector rival ICICI Bank (ICBK.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) posted an unexpected fall in profits after its bond and equity portfolios lost value.

Both banks saw a rise in bad debts as higher interest rates hurt retail loans such as personal loans, credit card dues and automobile loans.

India's central bank hiked interest rates to a six-year high of 8.5 last month in an effort to control inflation, which is holding just below 12 percent, and many expect it to tighten policy again at a review on Tuesday. See [ID:nBOM260256].

ICICI Bank, India's no.2 lender, posted a 6 percent drop in net profit to 7.28 billion rupees ($172 million) in the June quarter as the value of bonds and shares it holds fell by 5.94 billion rupees.

Analysts had expected a rise in net profit of 8.1 percent to 8.38 billion rupees.

"The road ahead is clearly bumpy for ICICI. The numbers show the bank may be heading for a sustained slowdown," an analyst with a local brokerage said. He did not want to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Ten-year bond yields IN082418G=CC rose by 75 basis points in the quarter, due to higher rates, eroding the value of banks' bonds, and the benchmark share index .BSESN slid 14 percent.  Continued...

special coverage

Budget 2009
Budget 2009

The government presents the budget for the full fiscal year 2009/10 on July 6.  Full Coverage 

Market Update

  • IndiaIndia
  • USUS
  • UKUK
  • Asia
  • Most Actives

SHOWCASE

Photo
Is the budget over-rated for personal finance?

Expectations are high given the outcome in the general elections.  Commentary 

 
Nilekani: Infosys' loss or govt’s gain?
Nilekani: Infosys' loss or govt’s gain?

Nandan Nilekani has resigned from the Infosys board to join the government.  Commentary | Slideshow 

 
Launched

Tata Motors announced the launch of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in India.  Slideshow | Video 

 
Satyam
The new Satyam

Stay updated with the developments at Satyam.  Full Coverage 

 
M&A Review
M&A Review

A review of mergers and acquisitions.  Full Coverage 

 
Financial Turmoil Timeline
Financial Turmoil Timeline

A round-up of measures taken by the U.S Federal Reserve since June 2007 to tackle the financial crisis.  Full Coverage