Nomura Q4 Results: Net profit jumps almost eight-fold on retail income surge

The results show Nomura's continued recovery after it was forced to slash its profit targets last May after market turmoil precipitated two quarters of losses in its investment business.

"Our recent results show strong momentum," chief financial officer (CFO) Takumi Kitamura told a press briefing in Tokyo.

Nomura has sought to expand its wealth management business to secure more consistent revenue that is less subject to market swings.

Nevertheless Nomura benefited from the Japanese 's rally between January and March that pushed the Nikkei 225 to a record high. Its retail revenue grew a further 21% on the October-December quarter, which itself was the highest in eight years.

Investment banking revenue from both domestic and international deals rose to the highest since the 2016/17 financial year - the earliest for which comparisons are available - despite a decline in global fee pools.

Assets under management in Nomura's investment management business rose to a record high of 89 trillion yen ($567.96 billion) and was growing at a faster rate than expected, CFO Kitamura said, before adding there was further room to grow.

Nomura's annual pre-tax income of 236.8 billion yen for its three core divisions remains below its target for the ending in March 2025 of 288 billion yen, although Kitamura said momentum was growing in each division and its domestic and international arms had performed well. ($1 = 156.7000 yen)