TOKYO, April 26 Reuters Nomura Holdings, Japan39;s biggest brokerage and investment bank, reported on Friday a 670 jump in quarterly net profit compared to a year earlier as its retail and investment banking income rose to their highest levels in eight years.

JanuaryMarch net profit was 56.8 billion yen 363.87 million compared to 7.3 billion yen a year earlier when worries about a global banking crisis engulfed global markets and hit Nomura39;s investment banking business.

The results show Nomura39;s continued recovery after it was forced to slash its profit targets last May amid global market uncertainty.

The Japanese stock market39;s rally between January and March that pushed the Nikkei 225 index to a record high boosted Nomura39;s retail business yet higher after recording its highest retail income in eight yeas in the previous quarter.

Investment banking revenue from both domestic and international deals rose to the highest since the 201617 financial year the earliest for which comparisons are available despite a decline in global fee pools.

1 156.1000 yen

Reporting by Anton Bridge; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Muralikumar Anantharaman

Source Reuters