International Business News - Basic Industries http://ibtimes.co.uk/subsection/companies/basicind.htm All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://ibtimes.co.uk/ http://ibtimes.co.uk/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Engineer IMI posted a 35 percent rise in first half profit on Thursday and said it expected further progress during the rest of the year, although it might continue to see some areas of weakness. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080828/imi-first-half-results-profit.htm Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:34:21 EDT Services group Rentokil Initial on Friday warned its recovery could take up to five years after first-half profits plunged over 50 percent as difficult economic conditions hamper turnaround plans. http://ibtimes.co.uk/data/articleimgs/4314-rentokili-initial.jpg http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080822/rentokil-recovery-five-years.htm http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080822/rentokil-recovery-five-years.htm Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:29:48 EDT Michael Page, the staffing group that has rejected a bid approach from Swiss rival Adecco, reported a 22 percent increase in first-half pretax profit on Monday despite weakening trading conditions in some markets. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080818/michael-page-first-half-results.htm Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:49:20 EDT Recruitment company Michael Page International rejected an approach worth 1.3 billion pounds from Swiss rival Adecco, saying it materially undervalued the company. http://ibtimes.co.uk/data/articleimgs/4248-adecco.jpg http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080815/michael-page-international-adecco-takeover.htm http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080815/michael-page-international-adecco-takeover.htm Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:05:59 EDT Weir Group, which makes pumps and valves for moving minerals, oil and gas, said it expected more progress this year helped by acquisitions, as it posted an 85 percent rise in first-half profit. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080812/weir-first-half-results.htm Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:53:40 EDT Smurfit Kappa expects business conditions to stay challenging this year but the Irish paper packaging maker will meet market expectations, sending its shares 12 percent higher on Monday. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080811/smurfit-kappa.htm Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:58:40 EDT Centrica is ready to offer a cash sweetener for the government's stake in British Energy in order to gain backing for a merger with the nuclear power generator, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. http://ibtimes.co.uk/data/articleimgs/4185-gas-ring.jpg http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080811/smurfit-kappa-market-conditions.htm http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080811/smurfit-kappa-market-conditions.htm Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:47:40 EDT Industrial materials group Cookson beat forecasts with a 45 percent rise in first-half profit, driven by its ceramics business and a recent acquisition, and was upbeat about its full-year prospects. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080805/cookson-first-half-profit.htm Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:37:46 EDT Travis Perkins said on Wednesday that is operating profit increased 0.2 per cent to £156 million in the first half of the year. The builders merchant reported a rise in revenue of 5.4 per cent to £1,671 million. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080730/travis-perkins-first-half-results.htm Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:31:17 EDT Bodycote Plc said on Tuesday that its first half pre-tax profit increased 4.9 per cent to £44.7 million. Revenue at the engineering firm was reported as being up 20.5 per cent to £382.6 million. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080729/bodycote-first-half-results.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:17:17 EDT SThree Plc said on Monday that its pre-tax profit after exceptional items rose 13.9 per cent to £23.8 million in the six months ended 1 June. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080721/sthree-profit-half.htm Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:13:41 EDT Invensys Plc said on Friday that it had made a "satisfactory start to the new financial year", with operating performance in the first quarter to 30 June in line with the company's expectations. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080718/invensys-first-quarter-expectations.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:56:37 EDT Building materials firm Wolseley said on Wednesday that its trading profit fell 28 per cent in the 11 months to 30 June. Revenue at the company was up only one per cent in the period. http://ibtimes.co.uk/data/articleimgs/3899-bolts.jpg http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080716/wolseley-profit-trading.htm http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080716/wolseley-profit-trading.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:20:37 EDT Heywood Williams said on Tuesday that trading conditions had been "very tough" in the first six months of 2008. The distributor of building products said that the credit crunch had led to a drop in new build activity of 20-50 per cent in North American and European markets. Around 80 per cent of all the company's activities are in North America and Europe. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080708/heywood-williams-first-half-trading.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:42:21 EDT Davis Service said on Wednesday that it expected first half profits to match expectations whilst its second half will see stronger growth. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080625/davis-service-profit-growth.htm Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:14:34 EDT WS Atkins Plc said on Wednesday that its operating profit increased 28 per cent to £86.7 million in the full year to 31 March. The design and engineering consultancy group said that strong growth in the Middle East and high demand in other key markets had helped push revenue up 11 per cent to £1,313.6 million. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080625/atkins-profit.htm Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:13:34 EDT Weir Group Plc said on Monday that it expected pre-tax profit for the full year 2008 to be substantially ahead of 2007 and would be at the upper end of market expectations. The engineering group said that its financial performance for the 22 weeks to 30 May had benefited from generally strong market conditions, particularly in the global mining market. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080623/weir-group-profit.htm Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:23:34 EDT Cleaning and maintenance firm MITIE Plc said in its preliminary results on Monday that it's profit before amortisation was up 20.5 per cent to £72.2 million for the full year ended 31 March 2008. The group said that revenue growth was also strong, rising 14.5 per cent to £1,407.2 million, with organic growth of 10.4 per cent. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080519/mitie-profit.htm Mon, 19 May 2008 08:38:05 EDT Manitowoc Inc, said on Monday that it would be increasing its bid for Enodis, the maker of kitchen equipment. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080519/manitowoc-bid-enodis-increase.htm Mon, 19 May 2008 08:38:05 EDT Building merchant, Travis Perkins said on Tuesday that its business had made good progress in the first four months of 2008, despite the economic slowdown. The group said that its total turnover at the end of April was up 6.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2007. http://ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20080513/travis-perkins.htm Tue, 13 May 2008 21:57:10 EDT