Retailer Carrefour, the world’s second-biggest distribution company after US giant Walmart, reported a recovery into profit in the first half of the year today.

Carrefour shares rose 4.4 per cent to €23.78.

The group benefited from asset sales and from improved profitability in its home market, France.

In the first six months of the year, the group made a net profit of €902 million ($1.195 billion) from a loss of €31 million in the same period of last year.

Current operating profit was steady at €766 million from €769 million in the same period of last year.

However, allowing for asset sales in Indonesia, Colombia, Malaysia, Singapore, Greece and Turkey, and taking account of a new standard for staff benefits, current operating profit rose by 4.9 per cent, or by 7.7 per cent on a basis of constant exchange rates.

This was driven by strong performance in France, where it achieved better than expected results, and in Latin America.

The asset disposals are in line with the company’s new strategy plan, under which it remains committed to maintain operations in emerging markets, but only in countries where it will be ranked No.1 or 2 in its field.

Finance director, Pierre-Jean Sivignon said during a telephone press conference: “In a difficult situation regarding the economic situation and competition ... Carrefour achieved a good performance in the first half.”

Sales amounted to €36.46 billion, marking a fall of 6.0 per cent, but of 0.8 per cent on a pro forma basis.

Carrefour said, as in July, that it should be on target for expectation by analysts for an annual current operating profit of about €2.2 billion.

At a press conference later today, chief executive Georges Plassat said he was pleased with the results and that the company was heading in the right direction.

Confident about Carrefour’s future, he said however that a touch of modesty was necessary “considering the difficult economic environment in which we operate”.

At Bank of America Merrill Lynch, analysts commented that the figures were impressive regarding France but disappointing everywhere else.

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