BNP Paribas, whose 2011 accounts were affected by the provisions on Greece and the financial crisis, nevertheless reassured the markets on Wednesday the outlook for 2012 Aftern s have reported a good start to the year in investment banking.
Its CEO, Jean-Laurent Bonnafe, also said he expects this year to stabilize the crisis in the euro area and an economic slowdown in Europe, e cartant and the recession scenario chosen by some economists.
"We think there will be some sort of stabilizing the situation in the euro area," said Chief Executive of BNP Paribas in an interview with Reuters Insider. "There will be some kind of slowdown (economic, Ed) in Europe this year, but no recession."
Asked about the prospects for business in 2012, he reported a "strong" start to the year in investment banking.
Around 24:50, the BNP Paribas signs the largest increase in the CAC 40 up 6.62% to 35.73 euros, outperforming the European sector index (+2.5%). The action resumed nearly 18% since the beginning of the year, bringing the Group's market capitalization to 43 billion euros, after falling 36% in 2011 .
"The performance (of the CIB, ed) is clearly better than the average BFI European and American," said Alex Koagne, an analyst at Natixis Securities.
"In addition, the group was generally optimistic, indicating that the beginning of the year had been good in this business," he says.
"AHEAD" ON RECAPITALIZATION
Despite being down by 50% to 765 million euros in the fourth quarter, net income is superior to the expectations of analysts surveyed by the editor Reuters.
The latter on average expected higher losses in the banking business and investment banking (CIB), the image of what came out of the results of Deutsche Bank.
"Despite a year marked by many non-recurring items (…), the bank shows a fair return while its solvency and liquidity position continue to strengthen, "said Pierre Chedeville, an analyst at CM-CIC Securities in a note.
BNP Paribas, which has decided to maintain a dividend, unlike SocGen and Credit Agricole, also estimated to have reached six months ahead with the objectives set for recapitalization by European regulators, with a capital ratio of 9.6% at end 2011.
"They do not need to accelerate the process of 'deleveraging' (reducing balance, Ed)," Yohan holds Salleron, manager at Mandarine Gestion.
The French bank, who spent an additional charge of 639 million euros in its accounts for the last quarter of 2011 on government debt, reports that it has now reached 75% of its funding on the Gre ; this against 60% previously.
NEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN 2013
Its chief executive said to be confident that the group will not have to place new provisions on Greece, which is negotiating a new bailout with the International Monetary Fund The European Union, the European Central Bank and its private creditors.
In BFI, where the bank has suffered for 510 million euros in losses on disposals of sovereign debt in Q4, the group table in 2012 on new charges outstanding € 850 million related to divestitures of assets and restructuring of its operations.
"The early years (2012, Ed) has been quite strong in investment banking", indicated Jean-Laurent Bonnafé.
Hired as many European banks in a plan to reduce stock and asset sales, the general manager of the BNP, however states that he "no plans" regarding a sale of its subsidiary American BancWest. He also rejects any sale of its land Klépierre which the bank holds 51% stake.
In terms of its refinancing needs, focus point on which investors concerned about the financial health of European banks, BNP announced that its issuance program in the medium and long-term amounts to 20 billion euros for 2012, five billion has been raised.
The new leadership of the bank, led since December by John Lawrence Bonnafé, present in 2013 a new development plan.