Savills says profits rise, sees more market uncertainty in 2018 ?

GENEVA, March 15 (Reuters) - Estate agents Savillsposted a marginally better than expected 3.5 percent rise inunderlying profit to 140.5 million pounds ($196 million) for2017 but said trading could face greater uncertainty this year.

Savills, which operates in Britain, continental Europe,Asia-Pacific and the United States, said it had made a solidstart to the year but demand could fall in some areas.

"We have made a solid start to 2018 with a pipeline ofbusiness carried over from last year in many markets, althoughthis is against the backdrop of heightened market uncertainty,geopolitical risks and rising interest rates," said ChiefExecutive Jeremy Helsby. ?

"We anticipate a tempering of the strong transaction volumesof recent times in some markets."($1 = 0.7155 pounds)(Reporting by Costas Pitas)