SAO PAULO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Shares in Brazil's Banco Bradesco SA (BBDC4.SA) fell to their lowest level in almost two years on Friday after the bank reported fourth-quarter net income equivalent to less than half that of analysts' estimates.
Bradesco reported a 75% drop in net income and sharply increased its provisions for loan losses to around $3 billion.
The bank's preferred shares were down 6.6% in early trading in Sao Paulo to 12.89 reais, paring losses that reached 8.7% after the open.
Bradesco set aside 4.9 billion reais in provisions in the fourth quarter to cover its loans to retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA), which has asked for bankruptcy protection.
Reporting by Aluisio Alves, writing by Tatiana Bautzer; editing by Jason Neely and Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.