Helsinki, July 18 - Finland's top retailer Kesko (KESBV.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) posted lower-than-expected second-quarter profits on Wednesday, but said it expects operating profit to remain at a good level in the second half of the year.
Kesko, which sells products ranging from bread to tractors in countries around the Baltic sea, reported a April-June operating profit excluding one-offs at 96.8 million euros
($133.5 million), up from 89.4 million euros a year earlier, but missing all expectations in a Reuters poll ranging from 102 million to 111 million euros.