Deutsche launches results leak probe

RED-FACED German officials at Deutsche Bank have launched a high-level probe into the leaking of its profit figures due for release on Thursday morning.

Reuters news agency, quoting 'company sources', said third-quarter net profits fell fell 49% to e303m (£189m), meeting analysts' expectations and leading to a rise in the company's share price of e1.14 to e60.45.

Deutsche spokesman Detlev Rahmsdorf denied the leak could have come from the Press office. 'What a question,' he said, adding: 'Of course we will be investigating this.'

Trading profits at Germany's leading bank rose faster than expected at 48% in the quarter to e2.347bn, the reports said. A London-based spokesman said it was the first time in memory that such crucial figures had been leaked and refused to comment on the accuracy of Reuters' figures. Deutsche's net profit fell from e591m a year earlier.