Jordan Housing Bank 2007 net profit up 18 pct

AMMAN, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Jordan's Housing Bank for Trade and Finance, the country's second-largest listed bank, said on Monday its net profit rose 18 percent in 2007 to 111.5 million dinars ($163 million), with strong growth across the board.

Michel Marto, the bank's chairman, attributed the healthy performance in 2007 to the bank's diversified activities, boosted by a rise in deposits and underpinned by strong business activity in Jordan and growth in regional markets.

The bank's operational revenues rose to 239.8 million dinars, up 18 percent from the previous year. ($1=0.709 dinars.) (Writing by Suleiman al-Khalidi, editing by Will Waterman)