Earnings at Anglo ‘to rise by 40%’

ANGLO Irish Bank says first-half earnings will rise by about 40% on strong lending growth.

In a trading update to shareholders yesterday it said earnings per share (EPS) will be around 40% more than last year’s tally of 41.9 cents a share. This would give EPS of 58.6 cents.

Profits for the first half, which ends on March 31, will also be boosted by a €22 million one-off gain from the sale of a business in the Isle of Man that was finalised late last December.