Linde: business performed 'well' in first-half

(CercleFinance.com) - German industrial gases company said business performed "well" in the first half of 2018, with operating profit up 3.
5 percent.

The group's operating profit rose to 2.21 billion euros in the first six months of the year, up from 2.14 billion euros a year earlier, despite group revenue falling to 8.64 billion euros from 8.93 billion euros in the first half of 2017.

After adjusting for exchange rate effects, operating profit jumped by 10.1 percent.

Looking ahead, operating profit after adjusting for exchange rate effects is expected to lie within a range from the prior-year figure to 5 percent higher, Linde said.

Completion of its merger with US rival Praxair remains planned for the second half of the year, it added.

After this unsurprising report, shares in Linde were up 2.9 percent at 211.9 euros in Frankfurt.

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