Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moeller-Maersk on Wednesday posted a better-than-expected 23 percent rise in first-half net profit helped by the sale of ships and rigs. Net profit rose to 8.7 billion Danish crowns ($1.59 billion), above the 8.3 billion crowns forecast in a Reuters poll.
Maersk said it had made gains on ship and rig sales of 3.6 billion compared with 1.0 billion in the first half of 2006. The poll had an average forecast for gains of 1.9 billion. Sales rose 6 percent to 131.2 billion crowns against the 137.8 billion expected in the poll.
Maersk said it had made gains on ship and rig sales of 3.6 billion compared with 1.0 billion in the first half of 2006. The poll had an average forecast for gains of 1.9 billion. Sales rose 6 percent to 131.2 billion crowns against the 137.8 billion expected in the poll.