(FILES) A photo taken on June 24, 2014 in Lille, northern France shows the logo of the French bank BNP Paribas. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN. On July 23, 2026, BNP Paribas bank reported a sharp 33.4% increase in net profit for the second quarter, reaching 4.3 billion euros, thanks to the sale of its stake in a Belgian insurance company and the integration of asset management activities purchased from insurer Axa last year. (Photo by Philippe HUGUEN / AFP via Getty Images)