UPDATE 2-Alterian H1 loss narrows; confident about FY outlook

* Current trading in line with its view

* Pretax loss 236,000 stg vs 2.2 mln stg

* Revenue rises 40 pct

* Web analytics product entering final phases of testing

* Shares up 1.4 pct (Adds details, CEO, analysts' comments)

By Purwa Naveen Raman

BANGALORE, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Marketing software provider Alterian Plc (ALN.L) said its first-half loss narrowed, helped by a 40 percent growth in revenue, and that it was confident about its outlook for the current year and beyond.

For the six months ended Sept. 30, pretax loss was 236,000 pounds ($387,600), compared with 2.2 million pounds in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 40 percent to 14.4 million pounds, helped by an improvement in North American business that accounts for almost one-third of the company's total revenue.