Dutch financial services company ING Groep NV today announced a third-quarter net profit spurred by improving investment markets, and said it aims to focus on growth opportunities in its banking business. Third-quarter net profit was 499 million euros, or 0.25 euro per share, up from a net loss of 478 million euros a year earlier. The company, which is in the midst of spinning off its insurance and investment arms, plans to repay 10 billion euros in state aid by the end of the year and repay the remaining 5 billion euros “quite early,” CEO Jan Hommen said.

Business and finance students from Iowa’s three state universities will face their professional counterparts Friday as part of the Global Investment Research Challenge, which is designed to provide real-world experiences to future investment professionals. Students worked with Deere & Co. to prepare a financial analysis of the manufacturing giant with headquarters in Moline, Ill. Members of the CFA Society of Iowa will judge presentations from each group of students, with the winning team advancing to national competition next spring in New York. A world competition will be held later in London. The state competition starts at 1:45 p.m. at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center, 1200 Grand Ave., Des Moines.

The Iowa Small Business Development Centers recently elected Sandy Ehrig and Sandy Johnson as new members of its State Advisory Board. The advisory board represents all regions of the state and many of the partners and associations that represent Iowa’s businesses and industries. Ehrig is Economic Development Administrator for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. She works to connect business and resource providers with the Renew Rural Iowa program. Johnson serves as District Director for nine Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) chapters in Iowa.