Experian says banking is stable but upturn far off

Consumer credit rating agency Experian today said that, although the banking system on both sides of the Atlantic is now more stable than at any time in the last 12 months, it is not expecting any big upturn in demand for its services.

The group got through the banking crisis by upping its role in helping banks to collect debts and actively manage accounts where customers are in trouble.

Finance director Paul Brooks said the group will eventually start to see the benefits of government intervention forcing banks to lend more. He said: "Banks' prospecting for new business has been at a very low ebb and it will pick up again eventually but we expect little organic growth in our first half. We expect our countercyclical activities to hold up with more consumers looking after their own situations and banks more keen to help them through."

Pre-tax profits rose by 11% to $578 million (£374 million) in the year to end-March on revenues 8% higher at $3.9 billion. The dividend goes up 8% to 20 cents but for a UK shareholder the strength of the dollar against the pound means it is a 40% rise.

Experian is one of the few FTSE100 companies whose share price rose last year. And it recently got the backing of two big-hitting analysts; JPMorgan set a share price target of 600p and Deutsche one of 540p. Today the shares were 8p higher at 494p.