BRUSSELS, August 14, 2008 (AFP) - Belgian-Brazilian brewing giant said Thursday it had managed to post an 8.6 percent rise in second quarter earnings to 542 million euros (806 million dollars) despite rising energy and input costs.

The company, already the world's largest brewer but which is trying to swallow its American competitor Anheuser-Busch, beat the forecasts of analysts, who had expected the company to report a drop in earnings.