Investment bank Macquarie Group is sticking to its earnings forecasts despite the negative impact of subdued financial market activity.

Speaking ahead of Macquarie’s 2011 annual general meeting, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Moore said:

“Consistent with our statement at the FY11 result announcement on 29 April 2011, we continue to expect an improved result for FY12 on FY11, if market conditions for FY12 are not materially worse than FY11.

“Given subdued conditions are likely to continue for the first half of the 2012 financial year (1H12) we currently expect the contribution from operating groups in 1H12 to be broadly in line with the prior corresponding period (1H11).

Due to a higher tax rate in 1H12 and the absence of the benefit of the MAp AVS reclassification included within the prior corresponding period (1H11), the 1H12 result is likely to be lower than the first half of the 2011 financial year. The second half of the 2012 financial year is likely to be impacted by the cash amount to be made available to investors noted within MAp’s recent announcement.

Mr Moore noted: “The FY12 result also remains subject to a range of other challenges including movements in foreign exchange rates, increased competition across all markets, the cost of our continued conservative approach to funding and capital, and regulation, including the potential for regulatory changes.

Macquarie shares fell after the investment bank's update, and were down $1.10, or 3.75 percent, at $28.23 at 1106 AEST.