SEB, one of the largest banks in the Nordic region, has announced operating profits of 4.554 billion kronor (around $685 million) for the second quarter, up from 3.906 billion in the same period last year.
A Reuters survey showed analysts on average expecting a profit of 4.107 billion kronor.
The company’s total turnover was 10.719 billion kronor, compared with 9.691 billion in the same period in 2006. Costs were 5.884 billion kronor, up from 5.637 billion.
Sweden's economy grew by 0.6 percent in the first quarter from the previous three-month period, Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån - SCB) said on Wednesday as it released fresh data that beat expectations.
“Sweden’s position in Europe remains strong,” Statistics Sweden said, noting Sweden had experienced growth that was “significantly higher than the European average.”
The growth, the strongest recorded in Sweden since the second quarter last year, is significantly higher than analysts’ forecasts.
They had predicted the economy would see weak growth, be flat or even contract, with a survey by Dow Jones Newswires forecasting an average increase of 0.3 percent.
Sweden’s first quarter economic health contrasts sharply with that of countries in the eurozone, of which it is not a member.
Many eurozone countries have registered weak quarterly data, such as Germany which reported 0.1 percent growth, or were in recession, such as France which saw its economy shrink by 0.2 percent.
Sweden’s “upside surprise is mainly due to stronger inventories” while “domestic demand (was) mixed,” SEB bank analyst Erica Blomgren commented on Twitter.
She said “private and public consumption (were) stronger than expected but investments (were) very weak.”
AFP/The Local/at
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