Maybank's full-year profit rises 2.2% to RM6.72 billion in 2014

Kuala Lumpur

A STRONG performance in the second half, particularly in the last quarter when earnings rose 11.5 per cent to RM1.93 billion (S$729 million), boosted Malayan Banking Bhd's profit for the full year to end-December by 2.2 per cent to RM6.72 billion, from RM6.55 billion before.

Malaysia's largest bank has proposed a single-tier final dividend of 33 sen per share, having earlier paid a 24 sen interim dividend, for a total payout of 78.5 per cent of net profit.

Maybank expects 2015 to be economically softer, given weak commodity prices, cautious consumer spending because of a new consumption tax, and continued deposit cost pressures that could result in net…