Britain's fourth-biggest bank HBOS says it is on course to beat market expectations for earnings growth this year due to strong revenue growth and tight cost control.
HBOS, which owns Halifax and ICC in Ireland, said it should exceed market expectations for underlying earnings per share of 96.8p for this year, up 12% from 2005.
The bank said it would extend its share buyback programme into 2007, and initially plans to repurchase £500m worth of shares.
