Commerzbank, Germany's second-largest bank, reported that its second-quarter profit more than doubled on gains from the sale of its asset management business, Jupiter. The Private and Business Customers segment, which includes private banking, increased operating profit to €249 million for the first half of 2007, a 20 per cent increase from €208 million in the same period in 2006. Net commission income rose from €754 million to €810 million. Overall, the Frankfurt-based bank earned €768 million ($1.05 billion) in the April to June period, up from €285 million a year ago. The results reflected the sale of the UK-based Jupiter asset management business in a €1.1 billion deal, which allowed Commerzbank to book a gain of €327 million in the second quarter. The bank said its net interest income in the second quarter slipped slightly to €1 billion from €1.06 billion. Its net commission income rose to €758 million from €677 million, while its trading profit rose to €381 million from €337 million. The Others and Consolidation segment, which includes international asset management activities, saw a fall in operating profit to €404 million for the first half of 2007, down from €477 million in the same period in 2006. Net commission income fell from €167 million to €145 million, which the bank said was primarily attributable to the deconsolidation of Jupiter. The bank also said it had sold its 51 per cent stake in Indonesia-based P.T. Bank Finconesia and was in talks to sell its Japanese asset manager Commerz International Capital Management, which oversees some €3 billion.