Table:
|  |  | Fiscal year |
| --- | --- | --- |
| (in millions of €) | 2019 | 2018 |
| Earnings before taxes (EBT) | 632 | 633 |
| ROE (after taxes) | 19.1 % | 19.7 % |
|  |  | Sep 30, |
| (in millions of €) | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total assets | 29,901 | 27,628 |
Paragraphs:
A.3.8 Financial Services
Financial Services supports its customers’ investments with leasing solutions and equipment, project and structured financing in the form of debt and equity investments. Based on its comprehensive financing know-how and specialist technology expertise in
the areas of Siemens businesses, Financial Services provides financial
solutions for Siemens customers as well as other companies.
Financial Services again delivered strong earnings before taxes. While the equity business recorded higher results, the result from the debt business declined, amongst others due to higher credit hits. Total assets increased along with a growth in debt business and in part due to positive currency translation effects.
Financial Services is geared to Siemens’ industrial businesses and its markets. As such Financial Services is influenced by the business development of the markets served by our industrial businesses, among other factors. Financial Services will continue to focus its business scope on areas of intense domain know-how.
Question:
How did the equity and debt businesses reacted to the credit hits?
Answer: While the equity business recorded higher results, the result from the debt business declined, amongst others due to higher credit hits. Total assets increased along with a growth in debt business and in part due to positive currency translation effects.