(Reuters) - Sweden's Securitas, one of the world's largest security services providers, reported a slightly bigger than expected rise in second-quarter core profit on Tuesday, led by improved margin development in its European operations.

Its quarterly operating earnings before amortisation (EBITA) rose to 2.80 billion Swedish crowns ($259.6 million) from 2.62 billion crowns a year earlier.

That beat analysts' average forecast of 2.77 billion crowns in a poll provided by the company.

Shares in Securitas were trading 5% higher after the earnings release.

($1 = 10.7861 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Agnieszka Olenska and Jesus Calero in Gdansk; Editing by Milla Nissi)