China's 12 joint-stock commercial banks posted net profits at 45.2 billion yuan ($6.61 billion) in the first half of this year, down 19.3 percent year-on-year, an official from the country's banking regulator said. Net profits of these lenders declined because loose monetary policy cut interest rate earnings and revenue on intermediary business fell amid economic slowdown, Xiao Yuanqi, director of the second supervisory division of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), said Friday. Margin on interest rates fell 81 basis points in the first half, Xiao said. Xiao said there were signs of rising non-performing loans at these banks and non-performing loans might see big climb in two or three years. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-08/15/content_8574384.htm