Siemens Q3 operating profit rises 40 pct

MUNICH, July 29 (Reuters) - Cost cuts and a weaker euro helped German engineering conglomerate Siemens (SIEGn.DE) post a 40 percent rise in fiscal third-quarter operating profit to a better than expected 2.33 billion euros ($3.03 billion).

Siemens said sales in the three-month period to the end of June grew four percent year-on-yar to 19.2 billion euros, while new orders were up 22 percent at 20.9 billion. Both figures were also higher than in the January-March period this year.

A Reuters poll of analysts had estimated third-quarter total sectors profit -- or operating profit -- at 2.1 billion euros, new orders at 18.5 billion euros and sales at 18.6 billion euros.