Crédit Agricole, the French financial services firm, saw assets under management increase 16.7% to €299.4bn ($253.4bn) in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, driven by institutional and corporate inflows and boosted by its alternative investment business.

First quarter net inflows totalled €10bn and positve market performance accounted for another €4.3bn. Credit Agricole's business outside France rose 72.2% to €30.1bn. Europe and Asia boosted assets.