London, Nov 13 - Brewing giant SABMiller warned that deteriorating economic conditions is causing weakening beer demand in many of its markets as it reported a 9 percent rise half-year earnings, near the top of forecasts.
The London-based maker of Miller Lite, Peroni and Pilsner Urquell beers added cost pressures will continue and the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the group's major emerging market currencies is expected to hit reported results.
The group also cautioned on Thursday that it is reviewing spending and investment plans in the light of the current environment, and said it will only invest selectively to support future growth.
Analysts and traders said they expect SABMiller shares to open unchanged to slightly weaker.
"The deterioration in global economic conditions is causing weakening consumer demand in many of our markets," the group said in its half-year results statement.
The group, which combined its U.S. operations with Molson Coors in June to form MillerCoors, posted adjusted earnings per share of 75.2 U.S. cents for the six months to Sept 30, against analyst forecasts of 66.3 to 76.5 cents and a consensus of 72.5 cents.
"The outlook statement is cautious, but no more than would be expected given the current economic climate," said Cazenove analyst Matthew Webb, who expected the results to have a neutral to slightly negative effect on the shares.
The brewer earns 90 percent of its profit from emerging markets and given the recent strength of the dollar against almost all emerging currencies, including the rand and central European currencies, will put future earnings under pressure.
It reported beer volumes in the half-year rose 3 percent, but the underlying picture saw volumes only slightly ahead.
The group held its half-year dividend unchanged at 16 U.S. cents a share.
SABMiller is the world's largest brewer by volume, but will lose that crown when InBev's $52 billion deal to buy Anheuser-Busch is completed, which is due to happen later this year after Anheuser's shareholders approved the deal on Wednesday.
The brewer's shares have fallen from a high of 14.63 pounds in January to a low last month of 758p to underperform the DJ Stoxx European food and beverage index <.SX3P> by 24 percent so far this year due largely to rising costs and currency concerns. The shares closed on Wednesday at 905-1/2 pence.
SABMiller shares currently trade on 9.1 times 2009 earnings just below Heineken and InBev at around 9.5, and well ahead of Carlsberg on 6.8.