Societe Generale fell 1.92 euros, or 4.6 percent, to 40.08 euros by 9:55 a.m., bringing the decline this year to 18 percent. The Paris-based bank cut its dividend to 25 cents a share for 2009 from 1.2 euros a year earlier, it said an e- mailed statement today.
“They continue to disappoint with negative charges each quarter,” said Jonathan Tyce, a London-based analyst at FBR Capital Markets International Ltd. who has an “outperform” rating on the stock. “Other top investment banks are talking about a good start - - - - >

The eurozones largest banking group said it earned a net profit of euro1.37 billion ($1.87 billion) having lost an identical amount a year earlier. Profits increased 4.6 percent from the third quarter.
Shares rose 2.2 percent to euro50.30 in Paris morning trade.
In a statement, CEO Baudouin Prot pleaded in favor of BNP Paribas business model, which combines retail banking with investment banking.
The mix, he said, is “an essential component of the service offering necessary to meet customers needs.”
In the United States, President Barack Obama is looking to restore some of the separation of commercial banks from investment banks to lessen risk, - - - - >

BNP Paribas SA, Barclays Plc and Banco Santander SA are among at least 353 European lenders that have increased in size since the beginning of 2007, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Fifteen European banks now have assets larger than their home economies, compared with 10 lenders three years ago.
While the European Union has grabbed headlines for breaking up bailed-out banks, regulators havent reined in firms that shunned state aid and are too big to fail. European bank assets have grown 25 percent since the start - - - - >

Prices in New York dropped for the first time in five sessions as U.S. stock markets retreated. Futures also declined because of rising U.S. fuel stockpiles. The contract climbed for the week as a lower dollar bolstered the appeal of commodities to investors as an inflation hedge.
“The market failed to sustain the move higher,” said Tom Bentz, a senior energy analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc. in New York. “Oil took out the highs of the last two days, got up to $72.90, and ran - - - - >

Oil futures declined for the first time in three days after the Shanghai Composite Index, Chinas benchmark, tumbled 6.7 percent on a report that the nations banks cut lending. U.S., Asian and European stocks followed the Chinese market lower.
“All of what we are seeing today can be blamed on the Chinese stock-market selloff,” said Tom Bentz, a senior energy analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc. in New York. “The Chinese markets have helped support commodities. Price rises have been based on expectations of increased economic - - - - >