What's going on?

On Friday, Citigroup and Wells Fargo, two of the US�s largest banks, reported their third-quarter earnings � and beat analyst skepticism.

What does this mean?

Citigroup�s third quarter profit was $500 million more than expected, while Wells Fargo�s revenue for the period was a pinch higher than forecast at $22 billion. Both banks reported an increase in �net interest margin�, meaning there was a greater gap between what they paid depositors for their cash versus what they charged borrowers for loans.

Why should I care?

For markets: A helping hand for US banks’ stocks.

The better-than-expected results have helped repair some of the damage to US banks� battered share prices. Citigroup�s stock had previously fallen by 6% this year (but rose by 2% on Friday), while Wells Fargo�s had plummeted by 14% (but bounced back by 1% on Friday). The boost in net interest margin means banks will make more money off their loans to customers. This might just put a smile on investors� dials, as they�ve been concerned that banks� profits would suffer from the mix of long and short-term interest rates. (Banks make a chunk of their cash by borrowing cheaply in the short term and lending at higher rates for longer periods, and the rates haven�t been ideal for this.)

The bigger picture: Drawing a line under the past.

The positive third quarter gives both banks some breathing room. Citigroup is running with it, aiming to slash nearly $3 billion in costs by 2020 while spending $1.5 billion on new technology, among other things, to help it boost productivity and become more competitive. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo is trying to rebuild its reputation after being plagued by a series of scandals, including allegations of it opening millions of accounts for people who didn�t want them.