Unilever Net Profit Up 9.1 Pct

LAMPUKUNING- PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk (UNVR.JK), a unit of Anglo-Dutch conglomerate Unilever Plc (ULVR.L), reported a 9.1 percent rise in second-quarter net profit, based on Reuters calculations, supported by robust sales.
Consumer spending is one of the main growth drivers in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, which has a population of 226 million and a growing middle class. Consumption is also expected to climb further after a string of interest rate cuts.
Unilever -- which produces various consumer products such as soap, detergents, dairy-based foods, tea-based beverages and cosmetics -- said its net profit for April-June rose to 726.2 billion rupiah ($72.98 million) from 665.4 billion a year earlier.
Sales climbed 16.7 percent to 4.47 trillion rupiah from 3.83 trillion a year earlier. [Reporting by Tyagita Silka; Editing by Ed Davies/REUTERS]