Paris - Despite the financial crisis in the global banking sector, French bank Societe Generale said Wednesday it expected to post profits of some 2 billion euros
(2.58 billion dollars) for 2008.

The unexpectedly strong results were the consequence of "the solidity of (its) retail banking activities and its diversified business portfolio," the bank said in a statement.

Societe Generale said it expected to have broken even in the fourth quarter of last year, which was particularly difficult for the sector.

The bank plans to publish its official results on February 18, but investors did not wait to act and bid up the bank's share price by more than 6.5 per cent, to 26.25 euros, in early trading on the Paris Bourse. (dpa)