Italian bank UniCredit: 3rd quarter earnings down 12 percent

Italy's largest bank, UniCredit, says its third-quarter profits dropped by 12 percent due to a reduction in core revenues amid persistent low interest rates.

UniCredit said Thursday that net profit in the period ending Sept. 30 was 447 million euros ($493 million), compared with 507 million euros in the same period last year. The results take into account the sale of a stake in the internet banking business FinecoBank.

Revenues were up slightly at 5.5 billion euros, with higher trading income, which doubled to 510 million euros, partially offsetting lower net interest income and fees and commissions. Net interest income was down 2.6 percent 2.9 billion euros, and fees and commissions slipped 2.3 percent at 1.9 billion euros.

The bank's new CEO will announce a business plan on Dec. 13.