Zijin Mining Group Co, China's largest gold producer, said profit may have risen 17 percent last year after bullion and copper prices kept a "high level" in the first three quarters.

Net income is estimated at 3 billion yuan (US$438 million), Zijin Mining said in a filing to Hong Kong's stock exchange yesterday. Output of mineral products such as gold and copper rose last year from a year earlier, it said. The results haven't been audited.

(Shanghai Daily February 5, 2009)