(by Geck Finn)

J.P. Morgan Chase, the second- biggest U.S. bank, said today its third-quarter profit fell 13%, on high costs related to the purchase of Bank One. Earnings declined to $1.4 billion, or 39 cents a share, down 13% from $1.6 billion, or 78 cents a share in the same period a year ago. Excluding costs from its Bank One acquisition, earnings were $2.2 billion, or 60 cents a share, on weak trading results in its investment bank unit. Analysts were expecting 74 cents a share. Revenue rose 61% to $12.5 billion, analyst expected $12.96 billion.

``Current operating results were below expectations primarily due to weak trading results in the investment bank,’’ said William Harrison JPMorgan CEO.