A Credit Suisse logo in the window of a Credit Suisse Group AG bank branch in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
Stefan Wermuth | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Credit Suisse has beaten analyst estimates for the third quarter, but took a hit from charges settling allegations of corruption in Mozambique and other legal issues.
The Swiss bank also warned that it expects to report a net loss in the final quarter of 2021 due to an impairment of 1.6 billion Swiss francs relating to its acquisition of investment company Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in 2000.
Credit Suisse said Thursday that net income attributable to shareholders came in at 434 million Swiss francs ($476 million) for the third quarter, above analyst estimates of 333.8 million Swiss francs according to data from Refinitiv. However, the third-quarter results were down over 20% from a year earlier.
The bank said gains in its income was hit by “major litigation charges” of 564 million Swiss francs, including 214 million Swiss francs relating to its settlement over the “Mozambique matter” and “litigation provisions in connection with certain other legacy matters.” The Swiss bank has been fined by global regulators following a corruption scandal involving the Mozambique’s tuna fishing industry.
Here are other highlights for the quarter:
- Revenue rose to 5.4 billion Swiss francs from 5.2 billion Swiss francs a year ago
- CET 1 ratio, a measure of bank solvency, was 14.4%, up from 13% a year ago
Shares of the Swiss bank are down 12% year-to-date.
Wealth management boost
The bank said its results got a boost from its wealth management division. Net revenue at this unit rose 3% to 3.3 billion Swiss francs, with assets under management up 9% to 843 billion Swiss francs.
“Wealth Management businesses returned to robust net new assets and higher transaction revenues sequentially, while recurring commissions & fees and client business volumes demonstrated strong year on year momentum,” the bank said in its earnings release Thursday.
Credit Suisse’s investment banking division revenue rose 10% to 2.5 billion Swiss francs.
Outlook
Looking ahead, the bank said it expects market volumes to slow in the coming weeks as things settle down following the volatility sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Overall, we expect to see a further reduction in market volumes for the remainder of 2021 as the trading environment normalizes compared to the elevated levels seen in 2020, particularly as central banks begin to signal the end of the monetary support provided during the COVID-19 crisis,” it said in its release.
The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it will soon start reducing the pace of its monthly bond purchases, as it looks to scale back its massive stimulus program.
