** Shares of North Sea-focused oil producer EnQuest ENQ.L down 3.1% at 11.4 pence
** Posts loss after tax of $173.5 million for half-year compared with a $30.3 million profit a year earlier
** Still, analysts at Peel Hunt and J.P.Morgan upbeat about co's first-half performance, highlighting its sturdy operations
** Co sticks to annual production guidance of 40,000 to 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day
** As of last close, stock down 6.5% YTD
(Reporting by DhanushVignesh Babu in Bengaluru)
((DhanushVignesh.Babu@thomsonreuters.com;))