"SocGen outperforms second quarter estimates for cost control and auto leasing unit. "

Societe Generale, France's third-largest publicly traded bank, disclosed quarterly earnings that exceeded expectations on Thursday, as cost management and robust growth in its car leasing division offset a sharp decline in margins at its retail branch.

For the three-month period ending in June, SocGen reported a group net income of 900 million euros, or $984 million, exceeding the average analyst forecast of 670 million euros.