Danish brewer Carlsberg reported a forecast-beating rise in operating profits for the second quarter and said its Russian, east European and Asian businesses gained market share.

Earnings before interest and tax rose to nearly 3.66 billion Danish crowns (€491 million) in April-June from 3.15 billion in the same quarter last year. The result beat all estimates of between 2.71 billion and 3.53 billion crowns in a Reuters poll of analysts. – (Reuters)