Saudi Rajhi Bank's Q2 up 8.2 pct, near top forecast

RIYADH, July 8 (Reuters) - Al-Rajhi Bank 1120.SE, the largest Gulf Arab bank by market value, said second quarter profit rose 8.2 percent to 1.74 billion riyals ($464.5 million).

Rajhi made a net profit of 1.61 billion riyals in the three months ending June 30, 2007, it said in a statement on the Riyadh bourse Web site.

Analysts' forecasts for Rajhi's second-quarter profit ranged from 1.61 billion riyals to 1.75 billion riyals in a Reuters survey last month. [nL30513750]

(Reporting by Souhail Karam; Editing by Inal Ersan)

((souhail.karam@thomsonreuters.com, +966 1 463 2603; Reuters Messaging: souhail.karam.reuters.com@reuters.net))

($1=3.75 riyals) Keywords: RAJHI EARNINGS

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