BNP Paribas Posts a Rise in Fourth-Quarter Profits

BNP Paribas (BNPQY)  led stocks in Paris lower Tuesday after it posted a rise in fourth-quarter profit but missed analysts' forecasts as low interest rates and a "lackluster" trading environment held down earnings.

France's biggest bank said net income for the final three months of 2016 came in at €1.44 billion ($1.5 billion), more than double the €665 million posted in the fourth quarter of 2015, but shy of the €1.5 billion anticipated by analysts. Revenue for the final quarter totaled €10.66 billion, the bank said, slightly ahead of analysts' forecasts of €10.48 billion.