UPDATE 2-BNP Paribas Q3 beats forecast with Fortis boost

* Q3 net profit 1.305 bln eur

* Average Reuters forecast for net profit was 1.184 bln eur

* CEO says feels "optimistic", gives no specific guidance

(Adds comments from CEO and analyst, further background)

By Sudip Kar-Gupta

PARIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), the eurozone's second-biggest bank by market capitalisation, posted higher profits on Thursday that beat market forecasts and trumped the results of many rival banks.

"I'm optimistic for our business," Chief Executive Baudouin Prot told CNBC television, although Prot declined to give any specific guidance on BNP's outlook.

Net profit rose 45 percent from a year ago to 1.305 billion euros ($1.9 billion), with earnings at the French bank boosted by its acquisition of Fortis assets and by its investment banking arm which benefited from a rebound in financial markets.