* H1 pretax loss of $114.9 mln vs $61.3 mln profit in 2008
* Interim dividend cut to 3.5 cents from 11.02 cents
* Outlook "uncertain" but sales up in June, July
(Adds details, background)
LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - British engineer Tomkins Plc swung to a first-half loss on Thursday due to declining sales volumes across the group, as it cut its interim dividend and warned of an uncertain outlook.
The company said it made a loss before tax of $114.9 million, compared with a profit of $61.3 million last time. It also cut its interim dividend to 3.5 cents per share, against 11.02 cents during the first half of 2008.
Tomkins, which has suffered from its exposure to the slumping North American automotive and housing markets, said trading conditions in its end markets had deteriorated during the period but recently showed signs of improving.
"The rate of deterioration in some of these markets has slowed as evidenced by trading in June and July, however the outlook remains uncertain," Chairman David Newlands said in a statement.
Tomkins said it was cutting costs to make up for the shortfall in sales, with restructuring initiatives on track to achieve yearly savings of $150 million by the end of 2011.
Shares in Tomkins, which have performed in line with the FTSE All Share Industrial Engineering Index, were quoted at 177.3 pence at the close on Wednesday. (Reporting by Nicholas Vinocur; Editing by Rupert Winchester)