Company News

The Royal Bank of Scotland reported today that second half profit rose 6% to £375 million on a sale of a stake in Southern Water Capital Limited and increased profit at the retail unit. Economists had expected it to rise to £329 million.

Full-year earnings rose 18% to £7.3 billion and the dividend is increased 10% to 33.2 pence per share.

For the year total write-downs increased to £2.5 billion as the purchase of ABN Amro contributed £900 million.

European and Asian markets

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed lower 105.79 or 0.75% to 13,925.51, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index increased 107.85 or 0.44% closed to 24,591.69. Australia ASX 200 index decreased 116.00 or 2.01% to close 5,651.20.

In South Korea Kospi Index increased 15.28 or 0.89% to close at 1,736.17, in Thailand SET index closed higher 10.08 or 1.21% to 842.12 and Indonesia JSE Index edged increased 16.18 or 0.59% to 2,756.31. Sensex index in India decreased 1.51 or 0.01% to 17,824.48.

In London FTSE 100 Index closed lower 110.80 or 1.82% to 5,965.70, in Paris CAC 40 Index decreased 103.59 or 2.08% to close at 4,865.23 and in Frankfurt DAX index lower 135.33 or 1.93% to close at 6,862.52. In Zurich trading SMI decreased 119.60 or 1.54% to close at 7,662.95.