Summary of Conference Call Company and Industry - The conference call pertains to **Nordea**, a financial services group operating in the Nordic region, focusing on macroeconomic trends, interest rates, and financial performance metrics. Core Points and Arguments 1. **Macro Trends**: - Interest rates are expected to decrease by approximately **12 basis points** quarter on quarter in Q4, following rate cuts in Q3. The average decrease in three-month interbank offered rates was **19 basis points** in Sweden and **8 basis points** in Norway, while Denmark and Finland saw increases of **2 to 3 basis points** [2][3] - The USD-denominated MSCI World Index increased by **4.9%** quarter on quarter, and the OMX40 Nordic Index rose by **3.8%** [2] 2. **Net Interest Income (NII)**: - NII for Q3 was reported at **EUR 1.775 billion**, with expectations for Q4 to be lower due to a decrease in average Nordic policy rates [3][4] - The margin-driven NII saw a reduction of nearly **EUR 90 million** in Q3, with a projected contribution of around **EUR 10 million** from deposit hedges in Q4 [4][5] 3. **Net Fee and Commission Income (NCI)**: - NCI for Q3 was **EUR 811 million**, with non-recurring gains of **EUR 10 million** not expected to repeat, leading to a relevant starting point of **EUR 800 million** for Q4 [6] - The average quarterly run rate for brokerage and advisory services was around **EUR 50 million** [7] 4. **Net Insurance Results**: - Q3 net insurance results were **EUR 66 million**, benefiting from movements in medium to long-term interest rates [9] 5. **Loan Losses**: - Historically, loan losses in Q4 tend to be higher, with expectations around **10 basis points** based on long-term averages. Significant portions of management judgment buffers have already been released earlier in the year [10][11] 6. **Capital and Dividends**: - The CET1 ratio was **15.9%** at the end of Q3, with a requirement of **13.6%**. A new buyback program of **EUR 500 million** was launched, expected to reduce the CET1 ratio by **30 basis points** [12][15] - The dividend policy aims for a payout of **60%-70%** of annual profits, with a stable to growing dividend per share ambition [12][13] Other Important Content - The impact of foreign exchange (FX) movements was noted, with SEK and NOK showing minor tailwinds for euro-denominated income in Q4 [3] - The conference call emphasized the importance of tracking FX movements, particularly for the P&L statement [3] - The company plans to book a fee for interest-free deposits under regulatory fees starting Q4, with a limited impact of mid-single-digit million euros [10] - The silent period for further inquiries begins on **7 January**, with the Q4 report scheduled for release on **29 January** [1][16]