Bank of China, the country's second-biggest lender, plans to raise US$6 billion in an initital public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong in June, the Shanghai Securities News said last Saturday, citing sources.

Bank of China said earlier this month it was eyeing a Hong Kong listing in in the first half of 2006, but that no firm timetable had been set.

The bank plans to launch the IPO around June 8, but has not decided when to issue mainland-listed A shares, the paper said.