ANZ shares hit highest since April 2022
Lending growth robust across retail, consumer divisions
Bank39;s CET1 ratio falls sequentially

Feb 12 Reuters Australia39;s ANZ Group said on Monday its firstquarter group revenue was in line with the quarterly average of firsthalf fiscal 2023 revenue, driven by its institutional division39;s markets business, lifting shares to their highest in 22 months.

Shares of the Melbournelisted lender rose nearly 1 to A27.93, as of 2320 GMT, to hit their highest levels since April 21, 2022; as against the broader benchmark39;s 0.3 drop.

Surging demand for its institutional banking services pushed Australia39;s fourthbiggest lender to post a record annual profit last year, as it benefited from a payments platform that processes big crossborder transactions.

The institutional division39;s markets business had a good start to the year with revenues a little better than the firsthalf FY23 average of A575 million 374.73 million, the company said in a statement on Monday.

It also added that its lending growth across its Australian retail and consumer franchises were robust, fueled by customer deposits, and is continuing to boost Australian home loan book profits.

ANZ Group added A8 billion in customer deposits across its retail and commercial divisions in Australia, even as its institutional deposits fell by A3 billion.

The bank39;s firstquarter revenue was in line with the quarterly average of the previous fiscal year39;s first half of…