ANZ’s half-year cash profit lifts 2 per cent to $3.56 billion despite weak housing market

One of Australia’s big four banks announced a cash profit lift but flagged a weakened housing market and home loan fees for its forecast.

ANZ has lifted its half-year cash profit to $3.56 billion but warned subdued credit growth, competition and compliance costs would keep bank earnings under pressure “for the foreseeable future”.

Cash profit for the six months to March 31 rose 2 per cent from $3.49 billion a year earlier, although the rise was 22 per cent if the wealth and insurance businesses it has agreed to sell to IOOF and Zurich are included.

A weak housing market has been flagged by the major bank.

But operating income fell 0.7 per cent to $9.75 billion and chief executive officer Shayne Elliott said tough conditions would continue as Australia’s property market sagged and demand for home loans remained significantly reduced.

“While our performance this half was solid, there are headwinds facing the sector, and we are taking appropriate action,” Mr Elliott said.

“Retail banking in Australia will remain under pressure for the foreseeable future.”

The result beat expectations and shares in the bank hit a near two-month high in early trade and climbed by 2.87 cent to $27.98 at 1134 AEST, outperforming a 1.34 per cent rise for the overall financial sector.

“We’ve screwed up in the past and we’ve got to get that money back into our customers’ hands,” Mr Elliott said.

“It’s 2.6 million accounts we’ve got to rectify.”

ANZ CEO Shayne Elliot says the bank could have been less strict on lending.

ANZ incurred $51 million in restructuring expenses and $13 million in royal commission legal costs — bringing total legal costs to $88 million since the inquiry began.

Looking at the business, Mr Elliott admitted ANZ may have been too cautious in tightening mortgage purse strings against a backdrop of regulatory intervention, royal commission scrutiny of lending standards and falling house prices.

“While our decision to step back from certain segments compounded this impact, being more risk averse in the current environment is prudent,” Mr Elliott said.

“However, we do accept we could have done a better job implementing our new risk settings and are taking steps to improve processes.”

Nonetheless, UBS analysts were concerned by a rise in mortgage 30 days overdue to 2.25 per cent at March 30 from 1.8 per cent six months earlier.

“This is much more than a seasonal uptick,” UBS said in a note.

“It appears to be coming from NSW, Victoria and WA.”

ANZ’s cash profit rose 22 per cent with the inclusion of the wealth and insurance businesses it has agreed to sell to IOOF and Zurich.

Those discontinued operations lost $50 million compared to $617 million a year ago.

ANZ held its interim dividend at 80 cents, fully franked.

ANZ’S SOLID FIRST HALF

• Cash profit from continuing operations up 2 per cent to $3.57 billion

• Cash profit including discontinued operations up 22 per cent to $3.51 billion

• Cash operating income down 1 per cent to $9.75 billion

• Net profit down 5 per cent to $3.17 billion

• Interim dividend flat at 80 cents, fully franked.

Originally published as ANZ’s half-year cash profit lifts 2 per cent to $3.56 billion despite weak housing market