Banque Saudi Fransi, a lender part-owned by Credit Agricole, posted a 10.2 per cent rise in third-quarter net profit on Wednesday as total operating income increased.

The kingdom's sixth-largest bank by assets made a profit of SR1.02 billion ($272.1 million) in the three months to September 30, up from SR926 million in the same period a year earlier, it said in a bourse statement.

The bank attributed its profit rise to higher operating income, which was SR1.59 billion in the third quarter versus SR1.49 billion in the prior-year period.

Profits from special commissions rose 6.5 percent over the same timeframe to SR1.04 billion.

The banks loans and advances at September-end were worth SR124 billion, up 4.9 per cent from 12 months ago, while deposits rose 9 percent to SR143.9 billion over the same period.

Saudi companies issue brief earnings statements early in the reporting period before publishing more detailed results later. - Reuters