ANZ Bank says hopes to contain group margins

SYDNEY, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ.AX) hopes to contain, and possibly improve, its group interest margins despite higher funding costs due to the global credit crisis, a senior executive said on Thursday.

The bank, which has embarked on an Asian growth strategy, also said it saw the value of Asian companies becoming more reasonable. ($1=A$1.48) (Reporting by Mette Fraende, editing by Mark Bendeich)