Thai hypermarket Big C net profit up, meets forecast

BANGKOK, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Thai hypermarket operator Big C Supercenter PCL (BIGC.BK) reported an 18 percent rise in quarterly net profit on Friday as rising sales and store expansions buoyed growth.

Big C, 36 percent owned by the French Casino Group (CASP.PA), posted a third-quarter net profit of 565 million baht ($16.16 million), or 0.71 baht per share, in line with the average forecast of 559 million baht from four analysts polled by Reuters.

The result was higher than a 479 million baht profit a year earlier and 598 million in the second quarter. ($1=34.98 Baht) (Reporting by Ploy Chitsomboon; Editing by Alan Raybould)