Malaysia

71% jump in debit billings over past 6 months encouraged lender to target $733mln transactions.

Lender is upbeat Malaysia's economic recovery in second half of 2010 would provide it growth opportunities.

Increasing input from overseas business and improved capital market operations helped boost record-high profit to $235.8mln.

Moody's has upgraded AmBank's Bank Financial Strength Rating to D from D-. It further confirmed the bank’s foreign currency deposit ratings of Baa2/P-3 with stable outlooks.

Bankers see additional licenses resulting to wider array of syariah-based financial services as opportunities for expansion.

But the target couldn't be met if Bank Negara decides to increase OPR by .5%.

Lender positive in moving forward by venturing into bancassurance despite Hong Leong’s failed merger bid.

Optimism attributed to expanding branch network coupled with SME owners’ 24-point Q4 confidence level.

Loans growth and higher non-interest income aided net profit boom to $289.52mln.

The AmBank group recorded a profit of US$224 million for nine months ending 31 March. The after tax and minority interest figure translates to a 12.6 percent growth over the previous corresponding period.

EONCap considers bids from other banks as it is studying Hong Leong's $1.44bln cash offer.

Eric Lee assumes CFO office after working for a global company.

Public Bank achieved a pre-tax profit of US$984.7 million and net profit of US$747 million for 2009. This happened on the back of a strong 10.2 percent growth in net interest and financing income. In the previous year, the Group’s pre-tax profit of US$1.002 billion included a significant one-off goodwill income of US$59.3 million in respect of the bancassurance distribution alliance with ING Asia/Pacific Limited. Excluding this one-off income, the Group's underlying operating pre-tax profit improved by 4.5 percent.

Talks with Hong Leong for possible acquisition of its assets and liabilities are not yet finalised.

Public Bank now offers Chinese Yuan Fixed Deposits and Chinese Yuan Current Accounts through an arrangement with Bank of China Berhad.

Speculations simmer down as bank's statement denied rumors of large-scale shakeup.