Feb 7 (Reuters) - Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd FLT.AX :
* CO PERFORMING IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS BUT MONITORING CORONAVIRUS IMPACTS ON EARLY H2 TRADING
* UNDERLYING FIRST HALF PROFIT BEFORE TAX LIKELY TO BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE MID-POINT OF GUIDANCE $90 MILLION TO $110 MILLION
* VIRUS ALREADY ADVERSELY AFFECTED FLT'S SMALL CORPORATE TRAVEL OPERATIONS IN CHINA, SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA
* CORONAVIRUS AFFECTING EARLY 2H TRAVEL PATTERNS PARTICULARLY IN ASIA
* VIRUS'S EMERGENCE INEVITABLY MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DELIVER STRONG 2H EARNINGS WEIGHTING IMPLIED IN FY GUIDANCE
* EXPECTS TO REPORT AN UNDERLYING PBT BETWEEN $100 MILLION AND $105 MILLION FOR SIX MONTHS
* WILL ALSO REPORT STRONG 1H SALES
* "ENCOURAGING OUR PEOPLE TO TAKE LEAVE OVER NEXT FEW WEEKS IN MAINLAND CHINA AND HONG KONG"
* VIRUS WILL IMPACT TRAVEL PATTERNS TO SOME DEGREE IN NEAR-TERM