National Bank of Abu Dhabi said its first quarter net income grew almost 1 per cent, missing analysts expectations as low interest rates coupled with intensifying competition and an increase in costs hit profits.
Net income increased to Dh1.42 billion in the first three months of 2015 from Dh1.41bn in the same time frame last year, the bank said. Revenues gained 7 per cent to Dh2.68bn from Dh2.5bn. Operating expenses grew 28 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter to Dh1.01bn from Dh789 million last year as the bank spent more on technology and hiring.
“These are good financial results in the context that the market is a little bit tougher at home but the way that we want to grow the business, that is growing,” Alex Thursby, the bank’s chief executive, told reporters on a conference call after the results were released.
“What’s very pleasing is that our pillar one, retail and commercial, had a very good quarter and we see that as continuous strength going forward.”
Net interest margin was unchanged year-on-year at 1.84 per cent, but slipped 12 basis points from 1.96 per cent in the fourth quarter. Still, customer loans grew 12.1 per cent to Dh200.2bn at the end of March compared to Dh178.5bn at the end of March last year.
Five analysts polled by Reuters forecast an average net profit of Dh1.49bn for the quarter.
“Earnings missed expectations mainly because of tighter net interest margins,” said Shabbir Malik, a Dubai-based bank analyst at the Egyptian investment bank EFG Hermes.
“The key thing for me was that loan growth was quite healthy and provisioning came in better than expected. That suggests to me that credit appetite is still intact and credit quality isn’t showing signs of stress.”
UAE banks registered record high profits in the past couple of years as the UAE's economy recovered from the financial crisis of 2008. But banks are focusing more on making money from higher-yielding individual customers and small and medium-sized enterprises in the aftermath of the oil price slump.
That is because government corporations sensitive to oil price fluctuations may not have a big appetite for tapping debt. Lenders are also beefing up their fee-generating businesses such as trade finance, wealth management and securities brokerage.
mkassem@thenational.ae
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Maestro
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
