Sydney, Aug 7, 2007 (ABN Newswire) - Bradken has announced annual earnings of close to $50 million, or 46.3 cents per share. Those numbers represent a 45 per cent increase over the previous corresponding period. Mineral sales were up 12% over last year, with iron ore and coal production volumes showing the most strength. Copper and gold production was lower, though prices helped offset the reduced volumes. The company's managing director says the results confirm its ability to grow through increased mining and rail volumes, margin expansion and targeted acquisitions. Bradken saw earnings increase in 2006 over the previous year.
Meanwhile, Primary Health Care is reporting a 19.5 per cent rise in full-year net profit, helped by improved margins at its medical centre business. Primary made a net profit of close to $56.8 million for the year up from $47.5 million a year earlier. Primary has built up a stake of almost 14 per cent in Symbion Health in recent weeks, and just announced it is not ruling any options out, fuelling speculation it may try to spoil a planned takeover by Healthscope. Primary had a bid for Symbion rebuffed in January. Primary Health Care posted record earnings of close to $47.5 million dollars in 2006.
The earnings reports continue to come in this morning, with AXA Asia-Pacific posting first half net profits of $374 million dollars. That's an increase of more than 23 per cent over last year. The company said it continues to benefit from strong fund flows, cost reductions and the strong equity market. The company has also gained from favourable claims conditions. AXA shares are down just over 3.5 per cent so far this year, compared with a 4.4 per cent rise in the benchmark index. AXA Asia-Pacific saw earnings ease in 2006 from the previous year
The full report is available at the following video and audio links.
Video Link
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/NEFA0908Audio Link
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/60N1EUBPAbout Finance News Network
Finance News Network (FNN) has been producing up-to-date concise business and finance news tailored to traders and investors alike since 2002. FNN content reaches a diverse and constantly growing audience via online streaming video, Street Vision broadcasts and the Telstra 3G mobile phone network.
http://www.finnewsnetwork.com.au
