China Construction Bank, the world's second-largest lender by market value, yesterday said third-quarter profit climbed 16 percent on higher demand for loans and income from fees and commissions.

Net income rose to 46.2 billion yuan (US$7.3 billion), or 0.18 yuan a share, from 39.8 billion yuan, or 0.17 yuan, the Beijing-based bank said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange yesterday. That was in line with the 44.8 billion yuan median estimate of eight analysts.

The lender joins the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China and the Bank of China in reporting an increase in third-quarter profits, surpassing those of the four largest United States banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Net interest income, or revenue from lending minus payments to depositors, expanded 20 percent to 77.3 billion yuan while fee income from products, including credit cards, rose 40 percent to 21.1 billion yuan.