好色先生TV materials firm expects rise in operating profit despite challenging UK market

Hanson has announced an expected 10% rise in operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2006..

In a trading statement the international building materials firm said trading for the second half had been in line with expectations.

Hanson said the rise in profit from 拢488.8m in 2005 was mainly due to growth from its two US operations. The firm also reported a healthy growth in its UK businesses despite what it referred to as a 鈥渃hallenging鈥� market.

It said that it expected full year aggregates and ready-mixed concrete volumes to be below last year, but added that the acquisition of Civil and Marine in March 2006 had contributed to strong earnings in the aggregates business.

Hanson said demand for building products in the UK was starting to show tentative signs of recovery, although full year profits are expected to be bellow 2005.

Operating impairments were estimated to be around 拢4m. The company said it expected net debts to be around 拢1.4m this year.

Chief executive Alan Murray said: 鈥淗anson has continued to deliver earnings growth in 2006 against a strong 2005. We remain confident in the future.鈥�