Danske Bank profit rises more than expected on high activity, low losses

COPENHAGEN, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Danske Bank on Thursday reported a third-quarter net profit above estimates, citing solid customer activity and strong credit quality, and narrowed its full-year profit outlook to the upper end of its previously given range.

• "Credit quality remained robust in the third quarter, with low loan impairment charges below normalised levels," the bank said in a statement

• Net profit for July-September rose to 6.39 billion Danish crowns ($954.46 million) from a year-ago 5.52 billion, beating the 5.94 billion expected on average by 16 analysts in a poll provided by the bank

• Full-year profit is now seen between 24 billion and 25 billion crowns compared to a previous range of 23 billion to 25 billion, due to loan impairment charges expected at no more than 600 million crowns

• Net interest income rose 6% year-on-year to 9.61 billion crowns, in line with analysts' estimates of 9.68 billion, and is still seen slightly above 38 billion for 2026

• The outlook for economic activity in the Nordic countries is generally positive despite higher and fluctuating energy prices, the bank said

($1 = 6.6949 Danish crowns)

(Reporting by Louise Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik)