Shipping services firm Clarksons (CKN.L) posted a 49 percent rise in first-half pretax profit, helped by a better-than-expected improvement in dry bulk markets, and said it was confident of future growth.
UK's leading ship broker, which raised its interim dividend by 6 percent to 17 pence, said while spot business trends indicated market volatility, its volumes were growing.
"Global container trade growth is projected to reach between 9 percent and 10 percent for the full year 2010 with the fundamentals for the sector looking likely to sustain improvements," Clarksons said in a statement.
For the January-June period, the company's pretax profit was 16.7 million pounds ($25.7 million), compared with 11.2 million pounds a year ago.
Revenue rose 14 percent to 101 million pounds.
Clarksons ended the first six months with 132.9 million pounds in cash.
Shares of the company, which have gained 22 percent since the beginning of the year, closed at 904 pence on Tuesday on the London Stock Exchange.
UK's leading ship broker, which raised its interim dividend by 6 percent to 17 pence, said while spot business trends indicated market volatility, its volumes were growing.
"Global container trade growth is projected to reach between 9 percent and 10 percent for the full year 2010 with the fundamentals for the sector looking likely to sustain improvements," Clarksons said in a statement.
For the January-June period, the company's pretax profit was 16.7 million pounds ($25.7 million), compared with 11.2 million pounds a year ago.
Revenue rose 14 percent to 101 million pounds.
Clarksons ended the first six months with 132.9 million pounds in cash.
Shares of the company, which have gained 22 percent since the beginning of the year, closed at 904 pence on Tuesday on the London Stock Exchange.