Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's (TYO:8316) profit attributable to owners of its parent company jumped 37.7% to 725.2 billion yen in the fiscal first half ended Sept. 30, from 526.5 billion yen a year ago partly due to higher interest and trading income.

Japan's second largest lender by assets said earnings per share (EPS) rose to 184.72 yen from 131.43 yen a year ago, according to a Thursday filing.

Ordinary income 17.7% to 5.277 trillion yen from 4.483 trillion yen a year earlier.

It forecasted attributable profit to grow 20.5% to 1.16 trillion yen or 299.94 yen per share for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.

In a separate filing, following an upward revision in earnings forecasts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, interim dividends have been increased to 180 yen per share, up 15 yen from the prior forecast of 165 yen.

The year-end dividend is now forecasted at 60 yen per share, up 5 yen, making the annual dividend forecast 120 per share post-split, a 10 yen increase from the previous estimates.

Price (JPY): $3614.00, Change: $+18, Percent Change: +0.50%