The net result has more than tripled to 3

Banks increase U.S. results show second quarter. Worn by the continued increase in lending, by the committees of credit cards and their investment bank, they saw their activity progress in almost all trades. "The banks continue to record strong growth in the volume of loans." "The environment is still favourable credit," told Bloomberg financial analyst of Atlantic Equities, Joseph Dickerson.

But each and others are starting to feel the effects of the increase in short-term interest rates, on their intermediation margins. And could reduce the demand for credit for consumption, in the term.

Bank of America, the second most leading American universal bank behind Citigroup, so yesterday announced a net income record in the second quarter, up 18 to $ 5.5 billion, higher than the forecasts of analysts. Its sales jumped 25 to 18,52 billion, worn both by retail banking ( 10) than by the Investment Bank ( 16) and private banking ( 9). The acquisition, for $ 34.2 billion, specialist credit card MBNA in January was also doped results, with synergies realized: 4,000 jobs have been deleted in the first half on the 6,000 announced the reconciliation.

The very lucrative activity of credit cards a market on which Bank of America is number one in the United States led to an increase in commissions. This increase has offset the pressure on margins caused by the increase in interest rates in the short term. "We faced the difficult environment caused by the rise in interest rates in leading each of our activities with rigour, which allowed us to increase our commissions", commented CEO, Kenneth Lewis, yesterday.

Risks of degradation

The third great generalist America Bank, JPMorgan Chase, also published yesterday, a record profit in the second quarter. A performance which resulted in an increase of more than 4 of its action on Wall Street in the afternoon. The net result has more than tripled, to $ 3.5 billion, exceeding forecasts, while turnover grew by 19 to $ 14,94 billion. JP Morgan has posted record performance in the Investment Bank, the net result increasing 37, to $ 839 million, taken by its activities "trading" and issuance of shares and bonds. Business credit cards was highest ( 61, to $ 333 million).

However, beyond these good results, the increase in interest rates has weighed on margins, especially in real estate loans. Coupled with lower economic activity, it could lead to a breakdown of the market, said his boss Jamie Damon. "Our results benefited from a very favourable to the consumer and the credit market environment, but this would not last," he said. In these conditions, losses of "hundreds of millions of dollars could be saved in the third quarter in the credit cards."

Tuesday, the fifth American Bank, Wells Fargo, had announced an increase of 9 of the net profit in the second quarter, at 2.09 billion dollars, and US Bancorp, the sixth U.S. Bank, an increase of 4.2 of net income to $ 1.2 billion. Both saw their margin of intermediation reduced by the increase in interest rates. Finally, Monday, Citigroup, the first American Bank, had published profit up 4, 5,265 billion, slightly lower than the forecasts of analysts. However, the pressure on its margins, the Bank also announced a significant operational costs increase moderately appreciated by investors (read above).