BUZZ-International Personal Finance: up after profit boost from Poland

** Consumer credit lender International Personal Finance (LSE: IPF.L - news) up as much as 5.3 pct on Wednesday after reporting a 21 percent rise in third-quarter underlying profit, boosted by increased lending in Poland.

** One of the top risers on the FTSE 250 in early trade.

** Stock has shed about 28 percent of its value since a year-high in early June due to investor concerns about slowing eastern European economies and regulatory changes in the countries IPF operates in.

** Numis analyst James Hamilton says he expects improved results next year from IPF's Czech-Slovakia unit, its only business to post declining profit due to regulatory changes and increased competition.

** Four brokerages have downgraded their price targets for the stock since July.

** IPF's CEO told Reuters the company hoped to tackle competition in the Czech Republic with a new local manager, and that it had launched a pre-paid card to deliver loans to customers in Slovakia to improve business there. (rm://richa.naidu.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)