Bank of Ireland announce strong earnings despite market volatility

SHARES in the country’s biggest company, Bank of Ireland closed down 35 cents at €10.03 yesterday, after it announced strong earnings growth in the first half of its financial year against a background of difficult market conditions.

Some of these difficulties exist in retail banking in Ireland where loan losses as a percentage of average advances are expected to be slightly higher than in the same period last year. But Bank of Ireland said these remain satisfactory.

Two peripheral businesses are to go creating an exceptional charge of €25 million.