BMO Q1 2008 Earnings

Scotia Capital, 5 March 2008� BMO reported an 8% decline in cash operating earnings to $1.21 per share from $1.31 per share a year earlier, below expectations. Reported cash earnings were $0.49 per share including $548 million ($362 million after-tax or $0.72 per share) in pre-announced charges.What It Means� The weak operating earnings were due to a $0.15 per share drag from the tripling of loan