Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Japan’s six major banking groups were all in the black in the first half of fiscal 2012, and three of them posted higher net profits.

With Western lenders treading cautiously in response to the European debt crisis, three Japanese megabanks are ratcheting up their overseas loans to record levels.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co. (SMFL) and Sumitomo Corp. (SC) announced Jan. 17 that they have reached an agreement with The...