The LEGO Group, world's leading construction toy manufacturer, reported better than expected financial result Wednesday.

Profit before tax for the first half of 2007 was 173 million dollars compared with 168 million dollars for the same period the previous year.

Sales to the American market rose especially well during the first half of the year, where the company's share of the U.S. construction toy market is up 8 points from 64 percent to 72 percent.

The total global toy market increased by about 1 percent during the first half of 2007.

In the light of results for the first half-year, the LEGO Group is raising its forecast of the result for the full year to 900 million dollars compared with 550 million dollars at the beginning of the year.