UPDATE 2-Bodycote posts profit, sees lower H2 margins vs H1

* H2 oper margin may ease - finance director

* Sees H2 sales lower than H1

* Confident of meeting analysts' raised view for FY oper profit

* Shares fall 7.2 pct (Adds comments from CEO, FD, analyst)

By Tresa Sherin Morera

BANGALORE, July 28 (Reuters) - British engineer Bodycote (BOY.L) swung to a first-half profit on better demand, but said it expected second-half operating margins to ease from the previous half on lower sales.

Shares of Bodycote, which provides thermal processing services from more than 170 facilities in 27 locations, were down 7.2 percent at 232 pence at 1119 GMT on Wednesday.

The company, whose activities include heat treating jet engine turbine blades and other parts for plane and car makers, said it expected second-half sales to be lower than the first half, hurt by the holiday season.

"The operating margin might just ease fractionally as the sales are impacted due to seasonal and other impacts," Finance Director David Landless told Reuters.

The company said overall demand remained well below historic levels and many segments were yet to show substantial improvements.

"We've seen a huge amount of volatility last year, the economies are still settling down... and it's still far from normal days," Chief Executive Stephen Harris said.

Brewin Dolphin analyst James Tetley said, "They put out a very recent trading update in July, and the shares have moved on quite a lot over the last few weeks...there wasn't anymore good news in (today's) statement. Also some of the markets aren't picking up."

Tetley has a "hold" rating on the stock.

On July 9, the company said it expected headline operating profit for the year to be significantly above the top of the forecast range.

Bodycote said it was now confident of meeting analysts' raised estimates of 39 million pounds ($60.8 million) to 40 million pounds for full-year operating profit.

For the six months ended June 30, the company posted a pretax profit of 19.1 million pounds, compared with a loss of 53.1 million pounds last year. Revenue grew 8 percent to 246.3 million pounds.

The company maintained its interim dividend at 2.95 pence. ($1=.6413 Pound) (Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)