hong leong bank bhd posted its fiscal firstquarter results on tuesday heres what we watched net profit hong leong reported a 14 onyear increase in quarterly net profit at 9814 million ringgit 2191 million beating a profit forecast of myr9117 million in a factset poll of two analysts the bank posted onyear rises in net interest income net income from islamic banking and other income the bottom line was also helped by a decrease in allowance for impairments and higher contributions from associates revenue revenue rose 87 on year to myr150 billion in line with a factset forecast the result was driven by expansion in net interest income as a result of loan and financing growth with net interest margin rising 5 basis points onyear to 218 noninterest income rose 34 on year helped by higher fee income and sustained performance in treasury market activities the bank said loan growth hong leongs gross loans and financing rose 88 on year to myr1695 billion led by expansion in mortgages small and medium enterprizes commercial banking and overseas operations provisions hong leongs allowance for impairment losses on loans advances and financing for was myr3758 million down from myr4879 million a year earlier the lender said its asset quality remained solid with a gross impaired loan ratio of 049 and healthy loan impairment coverage ratio of 212 as of sept 30