France's Bouygues tops earnings estimates as construction strength offsets media drag

(Reuters) -French conglomerate Bouygues reported a stronger than expected operating profit for the first nine months of the year on Wednesday, helped by resilient construction activities even as political turmoil in France weighed on its media arm.

Current operating profit from activities was 1.81 billion euros ($2.11 billion) between January and September. That was slightly higher than the average estimate of 1.77 billion euros from analysts polled by the company.

($1 = 0.8575 euros)

(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro in Gdansk; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)