Deutsche Boerse Q1 profit beats expectations

BERLIN, May 6 (Reuters) - Deutsche Boerse's (DB1Gn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) rose 42 percent year-on-year in the first quarter to 425.8 million euros ($659.4 million), the German stock exchange operator said on Tuesday.

The average of estimates in a Reuters poll of analysts had been for EBITA of 407 million euros.

Deutsche Boerse, which operates the Frankfurt stock exchange, derivatives platform Eurex and custody and settlement house Clearstream, reported first-quarter revenue of 644.5 million euros, up 19 percent year-on-year but just below the Reuters poll's average forecast of 649 million euros.

The group reiterated its forecast of continued earnings growth in 2008. (Reporting by Peter Starck)