James Halstead PLC - Manchester-based flooring manufacturer - Expects revenue in the six months to December 31 to be around 8% to 9% ahead of the comparative period in the prior year. Over the six-month period, trading of UK manufactured goods has been hurt by the lack of availability of international shipping to several overseas territories most notably Australia, North and South America, it notes. However, in December, James Halstead says it saw signs of reduced international freight costs and raw material costs, but energy costs remain at historically high levels. Based on this pretax profit for the first half of the year will be short of the comparative period, but the company says full-year expectations are unchanged.

Back in October, James Halstead posted a 9.6% rise in revenue year-on-year to £291.9 million for the year ended on June 30 from £266.4 million the year before. Pretax profit edged up 1.6% to £52.1 million from £51.3 million.

Current stock price: 195.92 pence each, up 6.5% on Thursday morning in London

12-month change: down 30%

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