Bank of Montreal reports stronger-than-expected profit

TORONTO (Reuters) - Bank of Montreal reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by gains at its Canadian and U.S. personal and commercial banking units and higher revenue at its capital markets arm. Net profit at Canada's fourth-largest bank was C$1.13 billion ($1.03 billion), or C$1.67 a share, for the third quarter ended July 31, compared with C$1.12 billion, or C$1.66 a share, a year earlier. Adjusted earnings were C$1.73 a share. Analysts had expected C$1.66 a share. BMO said profit at its Canadian retail bank rose 8 percent to C$526 million. Profit at its U.S. personal and commercial banking operation rose 2 percent. Its BMO Capital Markets unit earned C$306 million, up 14 percent. (1 US dollar = 1.0962 Canadian dollar) (Reporting by Jeffrey Hodgson; Editing by Bernadette Baum)