July 19 (Reuters) - India's Reliance Industries Ltd first-quarter net profit rose 19 percent year-on-yearto 53.52 billion rupees ($897.91 million), beating forecasts,lifted by stronger margins in its main oil refining business.
Net sales fell 4.6 percent to 876.5 billion rupees.
Reliance, which operates the world's biggest refiningcomplex in western India, was expected to post June-quarter netprofit of 52.7 billion rupees, according to Thomson ReutersI/B/E/S.
The company reported average gross refining margin of $8.4per barrel for the June quarter compared to $7.6 in the sameperiod last year.