Bank of Baroda, the sixth largest bank of India, has reported growth of 172% in its net profit at Rs 752.69 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2009.

The bank had a net profit of Rs 276.44 crore in the March quarter of FY'08.

Further, the lender has registered 28.50 per cent jump in its total income to Rs 4,992.41 crore during the March quarter, from Rs 3,885 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

India's second-largest lender ICICI Bank today announced 35% drop in net profit at Rs 743.76 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 when compared to Rs 1149.84 crore in the year-ago period.

In addition, the lender's total income also fell to Rs 9203.36 crore from Rs 10390.92 crore in the corresponding period in the previous year.

For the full-year ended March, ICICI Bank's net profit fell 9.40% percent to Rs 3758.13 crore, as compared to Rs 4157.73 crore for the year ended March 31, 2008.

With Akshaya Thrithiya - an auspicious day by the Hindu calendar – falling on April 27, gold suppliers are hoping for a turnaround for the better so far as demand for gold is concerned! Since the gold prices in India having more or less hovered around the Rs 14,000-15,000 per 10-gram range for some time, the jewellery sales have plunged substantially. In fact, there was hardly any import of the yellow metal during February and March.  

Manila - The Philippines' agriculture department Saturday ordered a ban on the importation of pigs and pork products from Mexico and the United States amid an outbreak of swine flu virus in the two countries. The virus is suspected to have killed 68 people in Mexico over the past three weeks, while at least eight people have been infected in the US.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said he ordered the import ban as a "precautionary measure" despite no links so far between swine farms and the outbreak.

Washington  - As early as Friday, the US government is expected to announce the results of its "stress tests" for 19 major banks - a report that could force some banks to sell ownership stakes to the US government.

The examination has been underway since late February, when federal banking regulators said it could provide added capital to struggling large banks, according to the results of the "stress test."

Public sector lender Corporation Bank on Friday reported a 26.18% surge in its net profit at Rs 260.49 crore for the fourth quarter ender March 31.

The lender had a net profit of Rs 206.43 crore in the March quarter last financial year.

During the fourth quarter of FY’09, the total income of the bank grew to Rs 2,199.64 crore from Rs 1,464.74 crore in the same quarter previous year.

For the financial year ended March 31, Corporation Bank reported a net profit of Rs 892.76 crore, down 21.46 per cent over the year-ago period. The bank had a net profit of Rs 734.98 crore in FY'08.