Net profits at Société Générale's investment banking division climbed 27% last year to €1.8bn ($2.1bn), boosted by strong results in the bond, credit and commodities markets and a "sharp increase" in structured finance.

The investment bank, headed by chief executive Jean-Pierre Mustier, said its market arbitrage team had also exploited a favourable trading environment in the final three months of the year, taking net profit from corporate and investment banking for the quarter to €499m - a rise of 20.2% from the same period in 2004.