Helman Sitohang says Credit Suisse’s Asia-Pacific investment banking business, including advisory, equity and debt capital markets, fixed income and equity sales trading posted the strongest ever first-quarter profits from January to March 2013.
Profitability and shareholder return on equity are the buzzwords for investment bank divisions across the industry. Recent earnings results from US and European banks find UBS, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse leading the pack in the first quarter.
With the European economy stuck in recession, Asia is picking up the slack for the industry. Traditionally Asia earnings have been more volatile. Investment bankers such as Sitohang are charged with trying to smooth...