Group Five: Earnings set to rise at least 30%

Group Five’s fully diluted headline earnings a share for the six months to December were expected to be between 30 percent and 40 percent higher than the R1.51 posted a year earlier, the construction group reported yesterday. The guidance range means Group Five expects to report fully diluted headline earnings a share of between R1.96 and R2.11. Earnings a share for the same period were expected to be between 40 percent and 50 percent higher than the R1.40 recorded a year earlier. It said the improved results followed the corrective action taken in the previous year, specifically at its construction materials segment and Middle East business. The shares rose 0.25 percent to close at R40. – Roy Cokayne