(Reuters) – French construction materials group Saint-Gobain on Thursday reported a record core annual profit, citing very strong underlying markets and rising prices. The company, which manufactures and distributes materials in sectors ranging from automotive to food and beverages, said full-year operating income totalled 4.51 billion euros ($5.03 billion), up 57.9% from a year earlier. ($1 = 0.8969 euros) (Reporting by Juliette Portala; editing)