French bank BNP Paribas said Thursday that its first-quarter net profit was boosted by a strong investment banking business, a weaker euro and new acquisitions in Europe.

BNP Paribas, France's largest listed bank by assets, said net profit rose 18% to €1.65 billion ($1.83 billion) in the three months through March, above analysts' expectations of €1.32 billion, according to a poll by The Wall Street Journal.