Mubasher: Ahli United Bank (AUB), the dual-listed bank on Boursa Kuwait and Bahrain Bourse, posted a 5.6% year-on-year increase in net profit attributable to its equity shareholders for the first half of 2019.

Net profit attributable to its equity shareholders reached $377.5 million in H1-19, compared to $357.4 million in H1-18, according to a press release.

Earnings per share (EPS) stood at 4.1 cents during the six-month period ended 30 June 2019, compared to 3.9 cents in the year-ago period.

Operating income rose by 2.9% year-on-year to $630.1 million in H1-19 from $612.4 million, AUB said.

The bank’s net interest income grew by 4.9% in the first six months of the year to $490.2 million from $467.2 million in H1-18.

In the second quarter of 2019, net profit increased by 1.1% to $184.7 million, versus $182.7 million in the same quarter in 2018.

AUB’s EPS remained unchanged at 1.9 cents during the April-June period of 2019, as compared to the same quarter last year.

Total assets amounted to $38 billion at the end of June 2019, up 7.1% from $35.5 billion as at 31 December 2018.

In April, AUB reported a 10.4% profit growth for Q1-19, recording BHD 72.7 million ($192.8 million).