ABN Amro Holding NV said Friday that it now expects to report an 8% rise in first-quarter net income, to $1.14 billion.
The Dutch banking company cited an improved picture at its North American consumer-banking unit, in part because of hedging gains. The corporate- and investment-banking unit's release of provisions, and stronger-than-expected proprietary trading amid favorable currency moves, also helped the results, it said.
ABN Amro is scheduled to report its earnings April 27. On March 30 it had said quarterly profits would be flat. That guidance had accompanied ABN Amro's announcement of a plan to buy Italy's Banca Antonveneta SpA.
