Goldman Sachs Group, the world’s third-biggest securities firm, reported today that its first-quarter
profit rose 17%.

Profit rose to $1.51 billion, or $2.94 a share, from $1.29 billion, or $2.50 a share, last year. Analysts were expecting $2.24 per share.

Revenue rose 8% to $6.4 billion from $5.93 billion. Revenue from trading rose 6% to $4.4 billion. Revenue from fixed-income, commodities and currency products increased 18% to $2.5 billion.