Updates on Bank of Nova Scotia and George Weston

Article Excerpt

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $51.75 (Toronto symbol BNS: SI Rating: Above average) is Canada’s third-largest bank, with assets of $412 billion. It operates 1,900 branches and 4,200 ATMs in Canada and several other countries. In the three months ended April 30, 2007, Bank of Nova Scotia earned $1.03 billion or $1.03 a share, up 15.9% from $887 million or $0.89 a share a year earlier. Net interest income rose 15.8%, to $1.9 billion from $1.6 billion. Other income (which includes wealth management) rose 10.3%, to $1.3 billion from $1.2 billion. Bank of Nova Scotia keeps gaining market share in corporate and investment banking, in retail and commercial banking, and in the wealth management and personal trust businesses. Expansion of foreign operations continues for the bank. For example, in the latest quarter it acquired 10% of Puerto Rico’s First BanCorp, and a 24.99% stake in Thanachart Bank, Thailand’s eighth-largest bank and leading automobile lender. The bank is also looking at purchasing a minority interest…