China’s Big Five banks boost profits, but margins shrink

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, April 29 (Reuters) – 5 of China’s premier condition-owned financial institutions have claimed increased very first-quarter net gains, helped by a rebound in the country’s economic climate from the coronavirus pandemic.

But margins – a critical indicator of profitability for financial institutions – shrank practically throughout the board as these stay beneath pressure from minimal curiosity costs.

The banks have benefited as financial action recovers in China, with the country’s GDP up 18.3% in the 1st quarter compared to the identical quarter past yr. read a lot more

Lending nonetheless makes up the bulk of the 5 banks’ earnings, contrary to their rivals in the West, several of which have huge financial commitment banking and securities trading businesses that aided to generate significant gains in their initially-quarter earnings. examine more

Industrial and Professional Financial institution of China Ltd (ICBC) (601398.SS), , the world’s greatest bank by property, described a web revenue rise of 1.5% in the quarter year-on-calendar year.

The Financial institution of Communications Co Ltd (BoCom) (601328.SS), , Agricultural Financial institution of China Ltd (AgBank) (601288.SS), and Financial institution of China Ltd (BoC) (601988.SS), adopted fit, all logging 1st quarter web income rises of more than 2%. read through far more [

China Construction Bank Ltd (CCB) (601939.SS), , on Wednesday, also produced higher earnings for the quarter.

However, net interest margins shrank at four of the five banks partly resulting from reforms by the central bank to lower the benchmark loan interest rate.

AgBank did not disclose its first quarter net interest margin, the difference between what banks pay on deposits and earn on loans.

Chinese banks have begun to pull back on lending, amid Beijing’s worries about exuberance in some sectors such as property. read more

The banking regulator has fined lenders for instances where borrowers have funnelled loans meant for other purposes into property. read more

Industry regulator CBIRC said earlier this month that China’s banking industry recorded a 1.5% year-on-year profit growth in the first quarter, while the bad loan ratio dropped to 1.89% in Q1 from 1.92% at the end of 2020.

CCB and ICBC posted flat non-performing loan ratios from the end of the prior quarter, while the other three logged slight falls.

Analysts, however, said that China’s banks face a spike in NPLs once a government-mandated grace period for calling in soured debt expires at the end of this year.

“We would expect a significant increase in the NPL [ratio] when this plan arrives owing,” explained Qi Wen, Beijing-based mostly analyst with the economics and system device of Asian Enhancement Financial institution.

This is really tough for many banking companies, especially the rural commercial banks, additional Qi.

($1 = 6.4674 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Reporting by Cheng Leng, Zhang Yan and Engen Tham Enhancing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edmund Blair

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.