Publicis, the world's fourth-largest advertising group, yesterday said its net earnings had grown by almost 50% in the first half, thanks to record new business and strong sales in emerging markets.

The French group, which owns the Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi agencies, said organic sales had grown 6.1% while net income rose 49% from €87m (£60m) a year earlier to €130m.

It booked a record $6.1bn in new accounts, including one from General Motors, the US carmaker, said to be worth $3.2bn a year, and from Visit London and Dr Martens in Britain.

It lost the media account for the government's Central Office of Information.

Publicis, which is buying a majority stake in Freud Communications, the PR business founded by Matthew Freud, recently won the European account for L'Oréal, the beauty care group, and has clients ranging from Coca-Cola to Toyota.

Maurice Lévy, chairman and chief executive, said the group expected to perform better than the global advertising market this year, with sales growth of up to 6% and an operating margin "well above" 15%.

In the second quarter, sales rose 8% thanks to new accounts won last year in healthcare communications and media buying, and boosted first-half sales to €1.9bn.

European sales rose 5.4% in the second quarter despite the poor economic environment but sales were at their strongest in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the rest of the world. Britain, France, Germany and Italy all registered growth but Holland showed a decline in sales.

Operating income rose 12% in the first six months from €258m to €288m, boosting the margin from 14% to 14.9%. The group hopes for margins closer to 17% within three years.

Publicis has been repeatedly linked to a possible takeover of its smaller French rival Havas, controlled by industrialist Vincent Bolloré, but Mr Lévy said yesterday he had no interest and was happy to see the rival retain its independence.

He also suggested that Publicis could make further acquisitions but only in a very limited and targeted manner, mainly in marketing services.

· JC Decaux, the world's second-largest outdoor advertising group, increased first-half sales 5.5% to €834m despite the weak environment in France and Britain, which hit revenue growth in the second quarter.