Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC reported unaudited earnings results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. For the first quarter, the company reported LKR 498.0 million in profit before tax for the quarter ended in March 31, 2018 powered by a steady growth in new loans and improvement in overall margins which was resulted by prudent asset liability pricing amidst rising market interest rates. This enabled the bank to increase its net interest income by 11.0% to LKR 1.34 billion for the quarter from LKR 1.21 billion recorded in the same period last year. Net trading gains rose sharply to LKR 199.58 million during the quarter from LKR 69.83 million in the same period a year ago as the bank sold its short term investments in the trading portfolio realizing a sizable capital gain. As a result of these fund and non-fund based incomes, the bank increased its total operating income by 17.0% on year to LKR 1.99 billion. The income tax charge for the quarter was LKR 185.16 million, up 16% from the same period last year which resulted in a profit after tax of LKR 312.8 million, down 11.0% from the same period last year. Interest income was LKR 4,316,975,000 compared to LKR 3,891,089,000 for the same period a year ago. Net operating income was LKR 1,664,813,000 compared to LKR 1,584,519,000 for the same period a year ago. Earnings per share - basic and diluted (annualised) were LKR 2.87 compared to LKR 3.41 for the same period a year ago. Net asset value per share was LKR 24.82. Net cash generated from operating activities was LKR 4,036,116,000 compared to net cash used in operating activities of LKR 2,634,043,000 for the same period a year ago. Acquisition of property, plant and equipment was LKR 31,330,000 compared to LKR 29,811,000 for the same period a year ago. Acquisition of intangible assets was LKR 6,340,000 compared to LKR 373,000 for the same period a year ago.