Citigroup Inc. delivered its best third-quarter performance in trading in over a decade, with revenue from its markets division rising 1% to $4.82 billion, driven by a 32% increase in stock trading revenue. This result surpassed expectations, as Citigroup had previously warned of a potential decline in trading income.
Despite a 9% dip in net income to $3.2 billion, or $1.51 per share, the bank saw gains across its key businesses, including services, banking, wealth management, and U.S. personal banking, reflecting progress in CEO Jane Fraser’s turnaround strategy.
Citigroup’s investment banking division saw revenue rise 16% to $1.6 billion, with a 44% jump in investment-banking fees, while its vast services business set a new record with $5 billion in revenue. The wealth management business also posted a 9% revenue increase to $2 billion.
The strong trading performance came amid a volatile quarter, with the VIX, known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, spiking. Citigroup’s trading desks, especially in index and single-stock trading, benefited from this volatility, along with gains in share buybacks and increased high-touch and programmatic trading activity.
Despite these gains, Fraser noted that the bank’s return on tangible common equity fell to 7%, down from 7.2% in the previous quarter, indicating the bank still faces challenges as it strives to reach its target of at least 11% by 2026.
This quarter’s results highlight Citigroup’s improved performance as it continues to restructure, having already reduced its workforce by 20,000 roles under Fraser’s leadership.
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