Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

BNP Paribas today said third-quarter profit rose 45 per cent, helped by the purchase of Fortis assets and a rebound at the investment bank.

France's largest bank rose as much as 1.9 per cent in Paris trading after reporting net income of €1.31 billion, higher than the €1.26 billion median estimate of 13 analysts surveyed.