Landesbanken struggling to pick up. - The eight biggest regional banks (Landesbanken) of Germany have published mediocre and very varied results for the first half of this year, revealing their great sensitivity to fluctuations in the market. Many of them received public bailouts and have not yet returned to profitability. Only the Bavarian bank BayernLB has managed to increase its profits over the year. The Landesbanken now aim to reduce their balance sheets, selling off at-risk business and cutting running costs. In return for state aid and under pressure from the European Commission, several Landesbanken have already shaken up the structure of their balance sheet. Net results from January to June 2010 inclusive for German Landesbanken are as follow, in decreasing order: 1) BayernLB (€486 million; up 21% on 2009); 2) LBB (€110 million, down 42%); 3) Helaba (€95 million; down 49%); 4) NordLB (€68 million, down 73%); 5) WestLB (€67 million, down 70%); 6) SaarLB (€3 million, down 73%); 7) LBBW (-€290 million, down 196%) and 8) HSH Nordbank (-€380 million, down 39%). (I.L./transl.fl)