Australia Myer H1 sales rise 2 pct; Dec disappoints

MELBOURNE Feb 4 (Reuters) - Myer Holdings Ltd (MYR.AX), Australia's largest department store chain, reported a 2 percent rise in first-half sales to A$1.797 billion ($1.59 billion) Thursday, but said sales in December fell.

The group, which listed last November, said it remained confident of achieving its forecast for 10.7 percent growth in earnings before interest and tax this year to A$261 million.

Myer has been dogged by concerns about its growth outlook after its private equity owners sold out, with its shares having failed to trade above their A$4.10 issue price since listing three months ago. They last traded at A$3.38. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Balazs Koranyi)