Handelsbanken Proposes High Dividend as Profits Beat Forecasts

Handelsbanken proposed a dividend of 13.25 kronor per share after reporting a fourth-quarter profit of 8.45 billion kronor that exceeded market expectations.The Swedish bank achieved a 13% return on equity and announced a cost-reduction plan to save 4 billion kronor by 2030 following a period of record growth in its savings business.Analyst Ellinor Beckett noted that the financial results were supported by tax refunds despite a 15% decrease in net interest income and pressure from a weakening USA dollar.