UPDATE 2-Publicis expects to beat ad market growth in 2009

* Sees some ad sales growth in Oct, better than Sept. * CEO says expects flat to slight 2009 ad market growth * Publicis hopes to outpace ad market in 2009 * Havas CFO says October was positive

(Adds Havas CFO comments, Publicis details)

By Dominique Vidalon

BARCELONA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Publicis (PUBP.PA) said its advertising sales grew slightly in October, outpacing growth in the previous month, and it hopes to beat the ad market in terms of revenue growth and margin in 2009.

Publicis, the world's fourth largest advertising and marketing group, said on Thursday it had indications that its business was growing nicely in October, even amid the global financial turmoil.

"We will deliver a higher margin than the industry, and one of the highest margins," Chief Executive Maurice Levy said of 2009.

His personal view, he said, was that next year the global advertising market would show flat to slight revenue growth.

He said the revenue numbers for October were "pretty good" but expected the rest of the year to be challenging for the group.

Levy reiterated that Publicis expected to post "positive" revenue growth in the fourth quarter 2008.

He also said he would announce an acquisition in China soon but had not looked at a big acquisition for a while.

"I want us to get out of this crisis in better shape than our competitors. I am trying to be fitter, better and have the best strategy," he said.

Herve Philippe, the chief financial officer of smaller domestic rival Havas (EURC.PA), told the same conference that October had been a "positive" month for Havas. He said the world's sixth largest advertising group expected to report "good figures" for new business in the fourth quarter 2008.

Philippe would not make a prediction for 2009, but said Havas would "maintain profits, whatever the (revenue) growth is". (Editing by Will Waterman)