Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP, the world's second largest advertising and marketing services group, has reported like-for-like revenues up 5.3% in the six months to the end of June, although UK growth remains "relatively weak".

The results, in line with analyst expectations, saw WPP post a pre-tax profit of £338m, up 6.9% on the £316m for the same period last year. Reported revenue rose 2% to £2.92b.

China and India, where WPP has made around nine recent acquisitions, saw first-half like-for-like revenues surge by 29% and 22% respectively.

The UK managed just 2.3% like-for-like revenue growth in the first half of the year compared with 5.1% in North America , 3.1% in Continental Europe, and 10.9% across the combined Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa and Middle East.

Around 21% of WPP's group revenue came from the latter region, or almost a quarter when the equally fast growing region of Central and Eastern Europe is included.

Direct and digitally-related activities now account for approximately 23% of WPP's total revenues.

The company added that 2008 should be a "bumper year".

WPP said in a statement: "As long as the United States economy holds up, 2008 should be a good year too, buoyed by the build up to Beijing 2008 and heavy United States political spending, in advance of a presidential election, which may see Hillary Clinton nominated and elected."

"2008 should be a bumper year, with the culmination of these two major events and the European Football Championships in Austria and Switzerland".

The firm added that the performance of its UK arm had been "relatively weak".

Last month WPP completed the $649m purchase of online ad company 24/7 Real Media.

This followed Google's $3.1bn acquisition of DoubleClick and WPP rival Publicis' $1.3bn purchase of digital group Digitas.

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