French bank Société Générale said on Tuesday that it aims to generate net profit of around €6bn ($7.3bn) in 2012, based on its corporate and investment bank and retail banking operations in France and abroad, as it seeks to plot a smooth path for the future after a bumpy ride in recent years.

The 2012 profit figure is double the €3bn profit goal the group has set for 2010, and a stark improvement compared with the €678m profit it posted for 2009, when the bottom line was dented by write-downs on the bank's portfolio of riskiest assets.