nordea bank abp on monday posted a forecastbeating secondquarter net profit as growing lending volumes drove net interest income higher and said it has decided to launch a new share buyback programme of up to 15 billion euro 151 billion the helsinkibased bank posted a net profit attributable to shareholders of eur106 billion compared with eur103 billion in the same period a year earlier a poll of analysts by factset had forecast net profit of eur928 million net interest income rose 62 to eur131 billion in line with the analysts forecast increased economic uncertainty rising inflation and lower gdp forecasts will challenge our customers and broader society during the coming quarters said chief executive frank vangjensen we are well placed to weather more difficult economic conditions and support our customers nordea backed its 2022 guidance expecting a return on equity above 11 supported by a costtoincome ratio of 4950 it also maintained its fullyear 2025 financial target of a return on equity above 13 supported by a costtoincome ratio of 4547 nordeas common equity tier 1 ratioa key measure of financial strengthwas 166 at the end of the quarter from 180 a year earlier