The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that RBC Dominion Securities analyst Darko Mihelic has reaffirmed his "sector perform" for National Bank of Canada. The Globe's David Leeder writes in the Eye On Equities column that Mr. Mihelic gave his share target a $4 boost to $148. Analysts on average target the shares at $135.71. Mr. Mihelic says he is "not alarmed" by National Bank's credit performance in the second quarter but "not enthused either." In the quarter, the bank set aside $545-million in provisions and included $315-million against loans that are still being repaid. Last quarter, it reserved $254-million in provisions. Mr. Mihelic says in a note: "Excluding Canadian Western Bank, National's gross impaired loans (GILs) as a percentage of total gross loans (GIL ratio) increased 7 basis points quarter-over-quarter and 32 basis points year-over-year to 0.86 per cent, the highest quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year increases in the group so far. Including Canadian Western Bank, National's GIL ratio increased 19 basis points quarter-over-quarter and 44 basis points year-over-year to 0.98 per cent. We thought National might have ended the quarter with higher performing reserves on a relative basis."