China Construction Bank (CCB), the nation's second largest lender, is in talks to buy control of Taifook Securities, to give it a solid footing in Hong Kong's lucrative retail securities market, a source close to the deal said yesterday.

NWS Holdings Ltd, the parent company of Taifook Securities, said in a posting to the Hong Kong stock exchange late on Wednesday that it was in talks to sell its 61.86-percent interest in Taifook, but did not disclose a buyer.

Taifook shares jumped nearly 13 percent yesterday after media reported that the potential buyer could be China Construction Bank.