RPT-ANZ Q1 cash profit up 13 pct, helped by Asia growth

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SYDNEY, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Australia New Zealand Banking Group Ltd ANZ.AX , Australia's third-largest bank by market value, on Tuesday reported a 13 percent rise in first-quarter cash profit, slightly ahead of analyst forecasts.

ANZ reported a cash profit of A$1.73 billion for the three months to December, up from A$1.53 billion a year earlier, bolstered by double-digit growth in its institutional banking business in Singapore, China and Hong Kong.

Two analysts had forecast cash profit would climb to A$1.70 billion.

While banks reap the benefits of cost controls and record low interest rates, ANZ is aiming to set itself apart by pursuing a pan-Asian strategy and growing the proportion of earnings it gets outside Australia.

(Reporting By Byron Kaye and Sonali Paul; Editing by John Mair)

((byron.kaye@thomsonreuters.com))

Keywords: AUSTRALIA ANZ/EARNINGS

Feb 11 (Reuters) - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd ANZ.AX :

* Says unaudited cash profit of $1.73 billion for the three months to end December 2013, up 13%

* Says Q1 unaudited statutory net profit was $1.64 billion

* Now expect the total FY 2014 provision charge is likely to be around 10% than FY 2013"

* Says total provision charge for FY 2013 was $1.2 billion

* Says provision charge for the first quarter was $191 million

* Says apra Basel III cet1 ratio at 31 December is 7.9%, equating to 9.9% on an internationally harmonised basis

* Says "intends to issue a capital notes offer to raise around A$1 billion in part to refinance cps1"

* Source text for Eikon News Search ID:nASX7rD49S Href="StoryRef">urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nASXccDPVw

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