Vodafone H1 Profit Up 15 Pct

ROBERT BARR

LONDON (AP) — Telecommunications company Vodafone Group PLC on Tuesday reported a 15 percent increase in first-half net profit. Results were boosted by favorable currency movements, lower taxes and expansion at its Verizon Wireless venture in the U.S.

For the six months ending Sept. 30, Vodafone made a net profit of 4.58 billion pounds ($7.6 billion), up from 3.99 billion pounds a year earlier.

Group revenue from continuing operations, however, was down 3 percent, the company said, while reported revenue — which accounts for businesses it has bought or sold — rose 9 percent to 21.8 billion pounds.

The company did not break out results for the second quarter.

Vodafone shares were down 2.9 percent at 134 pence in midmorning trading on the London Stock Exchange.

"Whilst the results have broadly met analysts' expectations, a continued dependency on cost cutting measures fails to truly inspire," said Keith Bowman, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.

"Management looks to be doing well in controlling the levers it can to sustain performance in spite of the cyclical and structural issues," said Morten Singleton, analyst at Collins Stewart. "There was no good news in the top line, however, with the organic metrics showing deterioration on Q1." Singleton recommended selling the shares.