Leading public lender to industries, IFCI has announced a healthy growth of 2.46 times in earnings during the three months period ended Dec. 31, 2007, to Rs 3,189.40 million as compared to Rs 1,293.70 million during the same quarter of the last year (2006).

The earnings per share (EPS) for the same quarter rose 31.66% to Rs 2.62 as against Rs 1.99 in prior year period.

Interest earned during the three months period ended December 31, 2007 climbed up 58.82% to Rs 5,744 million, whereas the total income for the quarter zoomed 57.51% to Rs 5,789 million, when compared with the corresponding quarter, a year ago.

Incorporated in 1948, IFCI provides credit to all sections of the Indian industry. The company is involved in the activities of project finance, financial services, non-project specific assistance, and corporate advisory services.

The shares of the company declined 8.1%, to settle at Rs 77.2 on Friday (Jan 18) on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The total volume of shares traded was 7,204,340 at the BSE.