UPDATE 2-SThree H1 rises as international growth offsets UK

(Adds detail, background, updates shares)

By Rhys Jones

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - British recruitment firm SThree (STHR.L) expects to meet expectations for the full-year after reporting a 14 percent rise in half-year profit as international growth offset the slowing UK jobs market, boosting its shares.

SThree, which provides IT specialists for sectors including investment banking, said half-year pretax profit after exceptional items rose to 21.8 million pounds on revenues 23 percent higher at 295.4 million pounds, while gross profit for the six months rose 24 percent to 102.5 million pounds.

Reuters Estimates projects SThree will post full-year pretax profit of 61 million pounds. Chief Executive Officer Russell Clements is confident of delivering that based on the resilience of IT staffing and international growth in the face of a slowdown in Britain's financial services sector.

"We're happy with 60ish (million pounds) in terms of pretax for the year. Last year was just over 50 million so over 60 would represent good growth," Clements told Reuters.

By 0904 GMT, shares in SThree were up 6.9 percent at 163-1/2 pence, having hit 169-3/4p.

Seymour Pierce analyst Kevin Lapwood said "given the economic backdrop, the numbers were good ... SThree now generates around 40 percent of its net fee income from overseas and this is still growing rapidly."

The staffing firm's UK division, which represents some two-thirds of the group, delivered an 8 percent increase in gross profit to 60 million pounds, despite difficult conditions.