BNP Paribas, the largest listed French bank, posted a third-quarter profit rise in line with market expectations, while relatively strong performance of its international services unit overshadowed weak investment banking activities and its retail banking arm .

 

The bank's net profit for the third quarter rose 4 percent from last year to 2.12 billion euros ($ 2.41 billion). Analysts polled by Financial Enquiree were expecting a profit of 2.11 billion euros.

 

Overall, the group's revenue fell 0.4 percent to 10.35 billion euros, below the 10.61 billion euros forecast by analysts.

 

Revenue was weak in banks specializing in BNP Paribas' retail banking activities in France, Belgium and Italy due to continued low interest rates, while the bank's income from banking investment activities and services to firms declined due to poor trading environment.

 

The performance of BNP Paribas International Financial Services (BIS) was slowed in the third quarter, mainly due to the devaluation of the Turkish lira. BNP Paribas has been the growth engine of the bank in previous quarters and includes consumer lending and retail banking in the United States and emerging markets