Since last summer, coinciding with the beginning of the ECB's rate increases, the main analysts have revised the one-year ahead profitability forecasts upwards for the eight major listed Italian banking groups (which account for more than two thirds of the sector's total assets).
According to the most recent data, ROE is forecast to be close to 8 per cent on average this year and the next; three banking groups are expected to report a profitability close to or above 9 per cent and none should end the year with a loss.