Malaysia

Report showed lender as Malaysian leader in ROA with its $336.92mln net.

Mortgage sales, personal loans and credit card businesses seen as drivers for achieving target.

Yet lender expressed worries on expected increase in inflation and interest rate.

MoU gives bank 10-year right to sell insurer's plans while latter pays $30mln exclusivity fee.

Higher loan provisions lower net despite 4% revenue surge and 6% increase in operating profit.

Expansion includes integration of its in-country treasury management service as part of $1 billion global investment.

Bank Negara Malaysia allowed Asia to have better access on lender's global Islamic banking platform.

71% jump in debit billings over past 6 months encouraged lender to target $733mln transactions.

Lender is upbeat Malaysia's economic recovery in second half of 2010 would provide it growth opportunities.

Increasing input from overseas business and improved capital market operations helped boost record-high profit to $235.8mln.

Moody's has upgraded AmBank's Bank Financial Strength Rating to D from D-. It further confirmed the bank’s foreign currency deposit ratings of Baa2/P-3 with stable outlooks.

Bankers see additional licenses resulting to wider array of syariah-based financial services as opportunities for expansion.

But the target couldn't be met if Bank Negara decides to increase OPR by .5%.

Lender positive in moving forward by venturing into bancassurance despite Hong Leong’s failed merger bid.

Optimism attributed to expanding branch network coupled with SME owners’ 24-point Q4 confidence level.

Loans growth and higher non-interest income aided net profit boom to $289.52mln.