STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Interim report for ForeningsSparbanken (Swedbank) January - June 2004 August 18, 2004
First half year in summary:
. Profit for the period rose by 22 percent to SEK 3,626 M (2,983)
. Operating profit rose by 17 percent to SEK 5,286 M (4,529)
. The return on equity rose to 17.6 percent (15.3)
. Earnings per share rose by 22 percent to SEK 6.87 (5.65)
. Total income rose by 4 percent to SEK 12,694 M (12,254)
. Net interest income rose by 3 percent to SEK 8,249 M (7,991)
. Net commission income rose by 23 percent to SEK 3,313 M (2,701)
. Net profit on financial operations rose by 22 percent to SEK
502 M (412)
. Expenses excluding profit-based staff costs increased by 2
percent
. Loan losses decreased by 58 percent to SEK 283 M (672)
. A share repurchase program has begun
. An agreement was signed on the sale of FI-Holding
For further information, please contact: Jan Liden, President and CEO Phone + 46 8 5859 2227
Henrik Kolga, Head of Communications Phone + 46 8 5859 2779, + 46 708 11 13 15
Jonas Blomberg, Head of Investor Relations Phone + 46s 8 5859 3322, + 46 702 650 133
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The full report is available for download:
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/08/18/20040818BIT00020/wkr0001.pdf