The net profit of listed real estate companies jumped 106 percent during the first six months of the year, the highest among all kinds of companies listed in China's stock market, the China Securities Journal reported on Tuesday.

A total of 663 listed companies so far have issued half-year reports, accounting for less than 50 percent of the total companies listed in the Chinese stock market, the newspaper said.

The net profit growth rate of listed companies in the timber and furniture industry reached 92.03 percent, ranking second among all industries, it said.

The net profit growth rate of the mining and transport industries reached 68.96 percent and 37.42 percent, ranking third and fourth respectively.

During the six months, the metal and nonmetal industries gained the most net profit of 9.43 billion yuan (US$1.16 billion), while the power, coal gas, and water supply industries ranked second in terms of total net profit, with volume standing at 4.88 billion yuan (US$602 million), it reported.

Although a large part of listed companies witnessed their profits increase, many of them seem chary when giving dividends to public shareholders, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2005)