Heineken profit and sales below forecast

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch brewer Heineken NV (HEIN.AS) posted first-half operating profit up 7.4 percent to 925 million euros (736 million pounds) on Wednesday, missing forecasts, but it said it had achieved higher pricing in most markets and cut costs.

Heineken, the world's third largest brewer, said sales for the period totalled 6.4 billion euros, also below forecast.

The brewer said it expected underlying net profit growth at least in the mid-single digit percentage range for the full year after achieving a rate of 5.3 percent in the first half.

A Reuters poll of 12 analysts had forecast, on average, operating profit before exceptionals of 965 million euros, up from 906 million euros last year, on projected sales of 6.97 billion euros.

(Reporting by Alexandra Hudson)