AIB confident over future profits

INVESTORS initial positive reaction to AIB Bank’s confident trading statement yesterday morning softened during the day and the company’s share price fell slightly by close of business.

Ireland’s biggest bank by market value said it was happy with the consensus of stockbroking analysts’ forecasts of 125 cents in adjusted earnings per share for 2004, compared with 118 cents last year.

AIB said full-year earnings per share may rise 5.9%, helped by loan growth in Ireland and Britain and an improvement in its Polish business.