By Dominique Vidalon PARIS (Reuters) – France’s Remy Cointreau reported a stronger-than-expected 27% jump in first-half operating profit and kept its guidance for a slower second half, saying consumption trends were returning to more normal levels. Chief Executive Eric Vallat also said he was “cautiously optimistic” about business in China, a key market, in the short-term although visibility was low due to on-and-off lockdowns. The company said it had had to postpone some investments in China until the second half. China on Thursday logged a record rise in COVID infections, darkening the count…