Bank of America's KPIs to improve in second half

(September this year Story re-filed to clarify second paragraph of efficiency ratio statement) by Mehnaz Yasmin (Reuters) – Street banks look set to decline this year, Wall analysts say Half-yearly reports better efficiency ratios, a key metric that has worsened as a global economic downturn dents revenue in traditional profit centers and costs soar amid the war for talent. A closely watched performance measure, the efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing a bank’s operating expenses by its revenue computational. A lower efficiency ratio indicates better performance. ” Our current forecast assumes that the banking sector’s efficiency ratio will increase from slightly below 10% exist400 arrive below % exist400,” said Christopher McGratty, director of research at KBW Bank of America at Stifel.