SYDNEY, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX , the country's No.2 lender by assets, on Thursday posted first quarter unaudited cash earnings of A$2.4 billion ($1.7 billion) while loan impairment expenses fell.
Group net interest margin for the three months ended Sept.30 was slightly lower, CBA said in a limited trading update, without giving a number or year-ago comparisons. Last year, it had disclosed unaudited first-quarter cash profit of A$2.3 billion.
Troublesome and impaired assets for the September quarter reduced to $5.5 billion.
Australia's four major banks posted their sixth straight year of record profits this year but rising bad debt charges, pressure on margins as well as stricter capital rules are clouding growth outlook.
($1 = 1.3984 Australian dollars)