LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Kingfisher, Europe'slargest home improvements retailer, said it could open 200 moreof its strongly performing British Screwfix stores, asfirst-half group profit dipped due to adverse foreign exchangemovements on Tuesday.
The firm, which runs the B&Q and Screwfix chains in Britainand Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other countries,said adjusted pretax profit for the six months to Aug.1 fell 2.3percent to 384 million pounds ($592 million).
That was slightly ahead of a forecast of 380 million pounds.
Group like-for-like sales rose by 2.0 percent, with the UKand Ireland division up 3.3 percent. In France underlying salesfell 0.3 percent due to ongoing weak consumer confidence.
Kingfisher currently has 412 Screwfix UK stores, whichsupply tools, plumbing and electrical equipment to Britain'stradesmen and home improvement enthusiasts.
($1 = 0.6483 pounds) (Reporting by Neil Maidment, Editing by Paul Sandle)