East Asiatic Co retains FY guidance as H1 opg above consensus UPDATE.

(From AFX Europe (Focus))

Updating with sales growth in Danish kroner, local currencies, comments on three business areas.

COPENHAGEN (AFX) - East Asiatic Co AS retained its guidance for the full-year 2006 for an operating profit before corporate expenses and one-off items of 275 mln dkr on sales of 3.3 bln dkr.

This came as the group posted an operating profit of 100 mln dkr for the first six months of the year, up from 51 mln dkr the year before, and above the 85 mln dkr average market forecast.

Sales rose to 1.679 bln dkr from 1.219 bln dkr, also beating the consensus of 1.559 bln dkr as compiled by RB-Boersen.

Net earnings were …