UK's Debenhams rises, posts first profit since 2021
** Shares of online retailer Debenhams Group DEBS.L up 3% at 25.5p
** Co swings to a half-year pre-tax profit of £28.3 mln ($37.89 mln), from a loss of £17.9 mln a year ago
** In FY28, it expects additional material cost reductions
** Expects debt to be negligible at the end of FY27
** As of last close, stock has risen 7.5% YTD
($1 = 0.7470 pounds)