EDF H1 core earnings top forecasts

PARIS (Reuters) - French nuclear power group EDF, which earlier on Friday called off talks to acquire British Energy, reported a bigger-than-expected 2 percent rise in half-year core earnings on Friday.

EDF said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to 9.041 billion euros (11 billion pounds) in the first half from 8.865 billion in the first half of 2007, on sales up 6.4 percent to 32.239 billion euros.

Core earnings were up 3.9 percent on a like for like basis, excluding exchange rate effects and changes in the group's scope. Sales rose 6.4 percent to 32.239 billion euros.

Asset sales meant net income was down 12.2 percent to 3.085 billion euros.

Eights analysts polled by Reuters had forecast sales of 31.664 billion euros, EBITDA of 8.971 billion, operating income of 6.143 billion, and net profit of 3.127 billion.

Europe's biggest power utility by market value also forecast 3 percent organic growth in full-year core earnings.

EDF is due to hold a news conference at 8:00 a.m. British time on its earnings, but this is likely to be dominated by the company's decision overnight to pull back from a widely expected bid for British Energy.

EDF made no reference to the decision in its half-year results statement. The acquisition would have strengthened EDF's presence in Britain and given it a key role in building new nuclear power stations.

(Reporting by Marie Maitre; Editing by Paul Bolding)