Profits slowing among big banks

Chinese banks will continue to experience profitability and asset quality pressures this year, analysts said on Wednesday.

Their comments came in response to two of the country's Big Five lenders - Bank of Communications and Agricultural Bank of China - posting flat annual profit growth, amid higher operating pressure and narrowing interest margins.

The remaining three lenders of the group - Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China and China Construction Bank - are all scheduled to release their annual reports this week.