LONDON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Estate agent Savills saidprofits at its British commercial property business fell 54percent in the first half of the year, hit by a referendum on EUmembership, and that the vote and upcoming U.S. presidentialelection had hit sentiment.
Underlying profit at the firm - which operates in Britain,Asia, continental Europe and the United States - rose 11.5percent to 42.8 million pounds ($55.58 million) in the sixmonths to the end of June.
But commercial property was one of the first sectors to behit after the June 23 referendum with investors pulling moneyfrom funds, forcing many to be closed.
Savills said it was not changing its full-year expectationsbut that "the range of potential outcomes has broadened overrecent weeks." ($1 = 0.7701 pounds) (Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Kate Holton)
Savills (SVS)
