Two sides of the coin

Banco Nacional Ultramarino S.A. (BNU) closed the first half of this year with MOP320.9 million (US$39.8 million) in net profit, a 15.2 per cent increase year-on-year, according to figures published in the Official Gazette.
According to the balance sheet, as of June 30 this year BNU posted revenues of MOP879.6 million, with costs reaching MOP558.7 million.
BNU closed out 2016 with profits amounting to some MOP560.5 million, a 9.8 per cent yearly increase.
Meanwhile, Novo Banco Ásia, S.A. closed the first half of 2017 posting losses of MOP5.5 million.
According to the balance sheet, as of June 30 Novo Banco Asia recorded revenues of MOP13.6 million and expenses of MOP19 million.
In May, it was announced that Portuguese bank Novo Banco, S.A. had completed the sale of 75 per cent of the share capital from its subsidiary in the MSAR to a group of investors led by Hong Kong-based Well Link Group for 145.8 million euros (MOP1.37 billion/US$171 million).