BUZZ-IAG: on a winning run

** British Airways owner IAG hits 4-1/2 month highs as hikes FY profit forecast after posting jump in Q3 profit.

** Rise in profit driven by tight cost control at co's British Airways and Iberia units helped by introduction of new more fuel-efficient aircraft.

** Stock up 3.8 pct, top riser on 1.2 pct firmer FTSE 100 , extends gains since mid-Oct lows to 28 pct.

** Weaker crude oil provided respite to IAG, recently caught up in a global sell-off in travel-related stocks on Ebola fears.

** IAG's rosier outlook contrasts with updates this week from Germany's Lufthansa and Air France-KLM (Other OTC: AFLYY - news) .

** Pair under pressure to expand low-cost operations & reduce costs to compete better with budget carriers; IAG benefits from operating Spain-based budget airline Vueling.

** Strength seen sector-wide though IAG outperforms; Air France-KLM up 2 pct, easyJet 1.2 pct firmer, & Deutsche Lufthansa & Air France, both down on the week, up 0.7 pct & 1.7 pct respectively.

(RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)