Russia Gazprom RAS net profit rises 54 pct in Q4

MOSCOW, April 1 (Reuters) - Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) reported on Tuesday a 54 percent rise in its non-consolidated net profit, calculated under the Russian Accounting Standards (RAS), in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The world's largest gas producer said in a statement net profit rose to 166.30 billion roubles ($7.08 billion) in the last three months of the year from 107.85 billion roubles in the same year-ago period.

Analysts tend to focus on Gazprom's financial reports under international standards (IAS), but view the RAS report as important guidance.

The firm also pays annual dividends based on its results to Russian standards. The IAS report is due closer to Gazprom's annual meeting, which will take place at the end of June. (Reporting by Tanya Mosolova; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)