Christie Group shares (LON:CTG) soared on Monday after the company posted its interim results for the first six months of the year.
The professional business services company reported that first half revenues were up 10 percent to £38.4 million, compared to £34.9 percent a year previously.
First half operating profit came in at £2.0 million, up from £1.1 million in 2017. Basic earnings per share also increased to 5.18p from 1.53p.
Moreover, the interim dividend rose to 1.25p per share, compared to 1.0 p last year.
The group attributed the strong performance to enhanced performance from international operations as well as various ongoing and future projects in the pipeline.
Commenting on the results, David Rugg, Chairman and Chief Executive of Christie Group said:
“the first half saw progress in performance and our services remain in demand from sophisticated commercial audiences”.
Christie Group is part of the AIM market, constituent of the London Stock Exchange.
The firm has 44 offices across the UK, Canada and Europe, with a particular focus upon the leisure, retail and care industry.
The company was founded back in 1846, with is now comprised of two divisions.
These include its professional services operations as well as its stock inventory systems and services.
Shares in Christie Group are currently trading +3.82 percent as of 11.02AM (GMT), as investors react to the news.
Elsewhere in the markets, shares in high street retailer H&M rallied after posting strong sales for q3.
Sales in the three months to August-end rose 9 percent, beating forecasts.
Moreover, rival retailer Intidex, which owns Zara, reported a three percent growth in sales for the first-half of the year.
This proves welcoming news for the retail sector, with many high street stores feeling the effects of an increasingly difficult trading environment.
Various highstreet giants have announced the closure of many stores in recent months, as retailers battle to offset the impact of falling foot-fall and lower discretionary spending levels among consumers.
