7:00 PM London – Dragon Oil net in the first half surged 31% and sales inched up 4.9%. Hill & Smith first half net was flat on a decline in revenue of 1.5%. Portmeirion Group Plc first half revenues increased 24.3%. United Carpets Group annual net revenues increased 2.5%.

Dragon Oil plc, the oil and gas explorer said first half revenue rose 4.9% to $276.33 million from $263.48 million a year ago. Net profit for the first half surged 31% to $137.57 million or 26.62 cents per diluted share compared to net profit of $104.98 million or 20.36 cents per share a year ago.

Hill & Smith Holdings PLC, the manufacturer and supplier of infrastructure products stated first half revenue decreased 1.5% to £193.5 million from £196.8 million in the comparable period. The company said half-year pre-tax profit remained flat at £20.2 million compared with the prior year. Earnings per share for the period slipped to 17.9 pence from 18.0 pence a year earlier.

Morgan Sindall plc, the construction and regeneration firm reported first half revenue dipped 14% to £0.98 billion from £1.14 billion in the same period of last year. Net profit for the first half declined 10.3% to £13.1 million or 30.6 pence per diluted share compared to £14.6 million or 34.2 pence per share in the year-ago period. Profit before tax dropped 10.2% to £18.4 million from £20.5 million in the year-ago period.

Portmeirion Group PLC, the ceramic tableware, cookware and glassware marketer reported first half revenue edged higher 24.3% to £21.13 million from £17 million in the same period last year. Net profit surged 85.9% to £645,000 or 6.41 pence per diluted share from £347,000 or 3.50 pence per share a year ago.

United Carpets Group plc, the carpet and flooring retailer reported annual revenue for fiscal 2010 rose 2.5% to £27.47 million from £26.79 million reported in the last year. Net profit in fiscal 2010 surged 110.8% to £683 million or 0.84 pence per share, compared to £324 million or 0.40 pence per share in 2009. Profit before tax soared 83.2% to £1.09 billion from £0.595 million in the previous year.