Rolls-Royce profits soar six-fold to 3 billion dollars

LONDON: British engine maker Rolls-Royce reported on Thursday a six-fold rise in net profit to 1.86 billion pounds (3.03 billion dollars, 2.16 billion euros) for the first half of the year.

Rolls-Royce said in a results statement that revenues rose 27 percent to 5.14 billion pounds in the six months to June, compared with the same period of 2008.

The group's order book jumped 2.0 billion pounds to a record 57.5 billion pounds while it also raised the shareholder dividend.

"The global trading environment remains very difficult and we believe the recovery is likely to be slow," said Chief Executive John Rose in the earnings release.

"However, our growing order book, the breadth of the portfolio, our robust balance sheet and the early action we have taken on costs underpin our investment in the business.

"Our performance in the first half has enabled us to confirm our guidance for the full-year and to increase the interim payment to shareholders."