SYDNEY, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Australia's top investment bank Macquarie Group MQG.AX on Monday said it expects a 40 percent jump in profit for the first-half ending September, helped by a weak Australian dollar and better "trading conditions" across most businesses.
It reiterated guidance for net profit for the year to end-March 2016 to top the A$1.6 billion ($1.2 billion) recorded in the previous year, its best annual profit since the 2008 global financial crisis. ID:nL3N1025WV
Under CEO Nicholas Moore, Macquarie has been "de-risking" from its traditional investment banking operations and focusing on more stable returns from retail banking and annuity-style businesses. The strategy has helped it post strong earnings growth and stable returns in recent periods.
As a result, the bank has become a favourite with investors who are shunning Australia's "big four" lenders after a downbeat earnings season earlier this year. ID:nL4N0XX5S0
Its shares have surged 30 percent so far this year compared with a 6.2 percent drop in the benchmark index .AXJO and losses of 8 percent to 14.2 percent for Australia's four big lenders, including Westpac Banking Group WBC.AX and ANZ Banking Group ANZ.AX .