NetEase online game profits rise

NetEase.com Inc, one of China's biggest online game providers, yesterday announced it posted 15 percent growth in the fourth quarter as profit surpassed expectations.

The company operates the popular Westward Online Journey II game.

Beijing-based NetEase posted net profit of 320.2 million yuan for the three months ending on December 31, compared with 314.8 million yuan in the previous quarter, and 276.7 million yuan a year earlier, a net profit of 30 cents per American Depositary Share, beating previous estimates of 25 cents per share made by Reuters Estimates.