In the banking sector, Anglo Irish Bank is expected to continue to benefit from the favourable interest rate and lending environment in Ireland, NCB says.

The strong growth seen throughout the economy in recent years is likely to continue, resulting in double-digit rates of credit growth being maintained over the next three years.

Meanwhile, the bank's British business has good intrinsic growth prospects given the relatively stable and benign operating backdrop in the investment property market, one of Anglo's specialised areas of lending.