OCBC Q3 profit rises 3% as expected on lending strength

Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), a major player in Singapore's banking sector and Southeast Asia's largest lender, reported a modest 3% increase in its third-quarter net profit on Friday, as forecasted. The bank's net profit for the three months ended September 30 rose to S$2.04 billion, slightly surpassing analysts' expectations of S$2.0 billion.

Net interest income, the bank's primary revenue driver, grew 4% year-on-year to S$2.31 billion, driven by an expansion in assets and higher yields. However, this was tempered by a 10% decline in non-interest income, which fell to S$1.42 billion, largely due to a sluggish performance at OCBC's trading and insurance subsidiary, Great Eastern Holdings.

The drop in non-interest income was also partly attributed to a slowdown in trading activity, which was largely offset by resilience in the insurance business. OCBC's performance was influenced by the rise in U.S. interest rates, which put pressure on margins in the quarter. Nevertheless, higher Singapore interest rates partially counteracted this impact.

The bank's results were more favorable than those of its peers, United Overseas Bank Ltd and DBS Group Holdings, both of which reported weaker Q3 earnings due to a decline in trading income. OCBC's CEO, Tan Teck Long, acknowledged ongoing uncertainties in global economic conditions, highlighted by geopolitical tensions and rising inflation.