United Utilities posts 23.7 percent jump in HY profit

(Reuters) - British water supplier United Utilities <UU.L> on Wednesday said first-half earnings jumped 23.7 percent due to incentives from the country's regulator and lower costs.

Underlying pretax profit rose to 240.3 million pounds for the six months ended Sept. 30, from 194.3 million pounds reported in the year-earlier period, said the company, which supplies water in the North West of England.

(Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)