Daimler boosted its cash cushion in the third quarter, it said on Monday as it unexpectedly published key quarterly earnings figures.

Net industrial liquidity rose to 6.7 billion euros ($10 billion) by the end of September from a reported 4.6 billion euros at the end of June.

Daimler shares jumped 6.4 percent to 37.40 euros by 1430 GMT, while Germany's blue-chip index was up 1.6 percent.

Cash flow in the industrial business was at 2 billion euros in the third quarter, and Daimler said it expected it to be positive for the year as a whole. In the second quarter, free cash flow stood at 1.4 billion euros.

Nothing happened the whole day and then comes Daimler, with better profits, better cash-flow. (CEO) Dieter Zetsche seems back on the right track, a local trader said.

Daimler, which was expected to publish quarterly results on Oct. 27, said its third-quarter earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) amounted to 470 million euros, without providing a year-earlier figure. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz)

Germany