CHICAGO (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N) stood by its earnings forecast for the current quarter on Thursday 10 September and said it expects sales to improve in the next quarter.

Procter & Gamble - Photo : AFP/Laurent Gillieron

The maker of Tide laundry detergent, Crest toothpaste and a host of other well-known household brands said it still expects earnings per share of 95 cents to $1.00 for the current fiscal first quarter, which runs July through September, as it expects organic sales to be flat to down 3 percent. That measure excludes the impact of currency fluctuations, acquisitions and divestitures.

For the second quarter, the company expects organic sales to rise 1 percent to 4 percent, helped by new products and other investments.

P&G shares traded at $54.60 in premarket dealings, up from Wednesday (9 September) 's New York Stock Exchange close of $53.76.

(Reporting by Brad Dorfman, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)