Societe Generale’s investment bank jumped by 25% in the second quarter as the French bank’s flagship equities unit rebounded following a slump in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its global banking and investor solutions unit, which houses its investment bank, posted revenues of €2.3bn, up by 25% on the previous year. Overall revenues at SocGen were €6.3bn, an increase of 18% and ahead of analyst expectations of €5.8bn, with its first-half performance the best in five years.