Singapore’s DBS Q3 net profit beats forecast

SINGAPORE:  DBS Group Holdings, Southeast Asia's biggest lender, posted a 17 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by its highest net interest margin in nine quarters though loan growth slowed to its weakest pace since late 2012.

The slowdown in lending growth reflects the downturn in Singapore's housing market after a series of government cooling measures and sluggish demand for China-related trade finance.