In their earnings on Friday, JPMorgan Chase JPM.N and Wells Fargo WFC.N reported sharp increases in net interest income, which measures the difference between what banks earn on loans and pay out on deposits, that drove up profits. On a conference call, the largest U.S. bank's chief financial officer, Jeremy Barnum, said loan growth demand is muted apart from cards and auto segments. There have been growing worries around the health of the U.S. economy against a backdrop of aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and high inflation.