Sentence examples for half trading from inspiring English sources

Jeff Fairburn, Persimmon's chief executive, said: "The first half trading has been good.

Software group Sage has added 11.2p to 196.5p after a good second half trading update.

It said expenses were lower and second half trading was stronger in its key UK and European markets.

With only three and a half trading sessions of 2011 left thin volumes are getting the better of investors by dragging the markets higher.

Commenting on SSL, analysts at FinnCap said: At the time of the first half trading update, sales were behind estimates but the bid premium supported the share price.

In the short term, the first half trading statement should be fine; long term, strategic initiatives are coming together and digital vision sets the group apart.

Midcap engineering software group Aveva was headed higher after it reported first-half trading was ahead of its own expectations, prompting a flurry of positive broker notes.

Further down the market, recruitment and IT outsourcing firm Harvey Nash closed up 1.5p, or 3.9%, at 39.5p after it said first-half trading remained broadly in line with expectations.

With the "put up or shut up"  deadline for AB InBev, the owner of brands ranging from Budweiser to Stella Artois, looming next Wednesday, the London-listed SABMiller brought forward its regular first-half trading statement by more than a week.

The retailer will update the City on first-half trading on Tuesday and Gatemore Capital Management, the US hedge fund that has built an 8% stake, is seeking a meeting with the full board to discuss ideas to improve its financial performance that were set out in a letter to the company in July.

Analysts at French Connection's house broker Numis said: "French Connection has made a solid start to the new financial year, benefiting from the changes in design and merchandising, and has seen a strong reaction to the new collections and a continuation of the improved second-half trading performance".