IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Compass profit up

Compass, the world's biggest caterer, said first-half profit to the end of March was "well ahead" of the same period last year, driven by new business wins and cost efficiencies, sending its shares higher.

The British firm, which feeds office and factory workers, soldiers and schoolchildren, said contract wins with Google in Australia, Electrolux in Sweden and the UK's Jockey Club, as well as the favourable impact of around 70 million pounds from currency movements, would help it deliver earnings per share growth of over 30 percent.