British outsourcer Capita posts 3.6% drop in first-half profit

(Reuters) - British business services group Capita <CPI.L> reported a 3.6% fall in first-half pretax profit on Thursday, hurt by a drop in new orders as it strives to turn around its business amid a tough economic backdrop.

Adjusted pretax profit was 126.1 million pounds for the six months ended June 30, compared with 130.8 million pounds a year earlier. New orders dropped about 10% to 830 million pounds.

The company, which provides services to both public and private sectors, maintained its annual pretax profit forecast of 265 million pounds to 295 million pounds.

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)