Business

ANZ optimistic after $1.7bn profit

17:00 pm on 31 October 2014

New Zealand's largest bank is expecting the economic environment to be favourable for it over the next year.

ANZ Bank reported a 25 percent rise to $1.7 billion in net profit for the year ended September, helped by both market share growth and reducing costs.

Chief executive David Hisco said the New Zealand economy has a lot going for it.

"The economy's ticking along reasonably well.

"Obviously the dairy price forecast is down but I think farmers generally are in a much stronger position now than what they were say three years ago, and they are still receiving good payouts from the previous high rate.

"You've got the Christchurch rebuild going on, you've got housing building going on in Auckland."