ANZ Bank posts 7 percent rise in half-year profit
Australia's ANZ Banking Group posts 7 percent rise in half-year profit to $3 billion
SYDNEY (AP) -- ANZ Banking Group Ltd., one of Australia's largest banks, said Tuesday its half-year profit rose 7 percent as revenue from overseas grew.
The bank reported a net profit of 2.9 billion Australian dollars ($3 billion) for the six months ended March 31.
ANZ said its cash profit, which excludes one-time gains or losses, rose by 10 percent from a year earlier to AU$3.2 billion, slightly above expectations.
It increased its interim by 11 percent to 73 Australian cents a share.
The bank said in a statement that diversification of its business was continuing, with 20 percent of revenue now derived from outside Australia and New Zealand.
Australian banks proved resilient against the global economic downturn and remain among a handful of banks in the world to maintain AA credit ratings.
