CCB denies holding $7 bln Fannie, Freddie debt -paper

BEIJING, July 24 (Reuters) - China Construction Bank (CCB) (0939.HK) (601939.SS) has denied a report that it has $7 billion in bonds issued by troubled U.S. mortgage lenders Fannie Mae FNM.N and Freddie Mac FRE.N, state media reported on Thursday.

Brokerage CLSA estimated earlier this month that CCB, the country's No. 2 lender, holds $7 billion in Fannie and Freddie debt, or 0.83 percent of assets. The figure was widely cited in media reports.

"These reports are groundless and not in line with the facts," the official Financial News cited an unnamed spokesman with the bank as saying. (Reporting by Eadie Chen; Writing by Jason Subler; Editing by Ken Wills)