UPDATE 1-SingTel Q2 profit up 19 pct, cautious on growth

* Q2 underlying net profit S$952 mln;consensus S$956 mln

* Singapore, Australia EBITDA to grow at low-single-digit

* Shares have underperformed market in 2009

(adds detail on outlook)

By Harry Suhartono

SINGAPORE, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI), Southeast Asia's biggest telecom firm, predicted a cautious outlook for growth in its core markets after second-quarter profit jumped 18.8 percent, its second successive increase in quarterly profit.

SingTel, which owns Optus in Australia and stakes in mobile operators across Asia, said on Wednesday its operating revenue in Singapore and Australia will grow at a single-digit level and EBITDA will expand at a low single-digit pace.

Singapore and Australia accounted for 54 percent of the group's EBITDA -- earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation -- in the second quarter.

SingTel said its associates Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO) and Telkomsel earnings will also likely grow in local currency terms, but ordinary dividends from regional mobile associates will be lower.