Aug 28 (Reuters) - National Bank of Canada ( NTIOF )

reported a higher third-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by

strong performance in its wealth management and financial

markets units.

The Canadian central bank's interest rate cuts for two

straight months, in June and July, have boosted trading and

wealth management activities for the country's lenders.

National Bank of Canada's ( NTIOF ) upbeat results come in contrast to

rival Bank of Montreal ( BERZ ), which reported a drop in

quarterly adjusted profit on higher loan loss provisions.

Net income from National Bank of Canada's ( NTIOF ) financial markets

unit totaled C$318 million in the third quarter, up 55% from

C$205 million a year earlier.

The bank's adjusted profit rose to C$960 million ($713.12

million), or C$2.68 per share, for the three months ended July

31, from C$781 million, or C$2.18 per share, a year earlier.

($1 = 1.3462 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by

Shinjini Ganguli)