Nomura first-quarter profit jumps 52pct
Japan's top investment bank and brokerage firm booked a profit of 104.6 billion yen (US$705.71 million) in the April-June period, compared to a profit of 68.9 billion yen in the same period a year prior.
The results come on the back of Nomura's highest ever annual profit in the year to March 2025, advancing its leading position in the Japanese market as well as its multi-year effort to become a global financial player.
Nomura's global markets division recorded seven per cent growth in revenue as volatility triggered by the proposed tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump in April boosted demand for macro and spread products.
While global M&A dealmaking was held up by tariff-related uncertainty over the quarter, Nomura benefitted from major domestic deals, including the privatisations of listed subsidiaries by NTT and Toyota Motor.
Nomura has expanded its wealth and asset management businesses as a means of generating stable income that is less subject to market volatility after years of choppy returns.
It is now Japan's leading wealth management firm, capitalising on Japanese households' move from savings to investment, and the division made nearly 40 per cent of its pretax profits over the quarter.
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