The Tiger Roars Again!

Malayan Banking (Maybank), the country’s biggest lender reported its first-quarter,showing net profit has risen more than half as the rebound in Asian economies boosted fee-based income and its loan book.

Maybank, with a staggering market value of US$14 billion (RM47.6 billion), posted July-September net profit of RM881.8 million compared with RM572.2 million a year ago.

The earnings were higher than the average forecast of RM720 million by four analysts surveyed by Reuters.

The lender, 65 per cent owned by government-controlled agencies, has launched an ambitious restructuring plan this year to win a place among the top five banks in Southeast Asia following a series of expensive acquisitions in 2008.

Maybank shares have gained 50 per cent this year, outperforming the 46 per cent rise in the broader market index, but lagging the more than 100 per cent gain by Malaysia’s top wheeler dealer,CIMB.

Can the tiger's roar be heard loud and clear again in the financial jungles? Can it beat down the politically-connected CIMB?

We will let them each to tell us their stories in due time.