Avons' second quarter profit jumps 35 percent.

* Avon Products, Inc., New York, posted a 35% increase in quarterly profit in the second quarter. Net income in the quarter rose to $232.3 million. Experts said overall sales slightly exceeded expectations, rising 13% to $1.84 billion.

Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange, sales grew 12%. Sales in the U.S., Avon's biggest market, increased just 3%. Unit volume grew 11%, executives said.

Avon said the sales growth was driven by a 17% increase in sales of beauty products, with all major categories delivering double-digit gains. Active representatives rose 11%, with all geographic regions showing increases. European sales accelerated 28% on a dollar basis, boosted by a rise of more than 80% in Russia, which is Avon's fastest-growing market. Latin America generated a 10% sales increase in dollars. Asia Pacific sales jumped 20%, powered by China, where sales surged more than 60%, Avon said.

For the third quarter, Avon forecast earnings of about 34 cents a share, powered by overseas strength and beauty products sales. The company also raised its earnings outlook for the year to $1.72 a share, up from its prior estimate of $1.70 a share.