Specialist recruitment firm Michael Page International (LSE: MPI) reported on an encouraging first quarter, in which the company achieved a 2.9% increase in year-on-year gross profit to £97.8m (Q109: £95m). The strong performance reflects a 7.9% improvement on a sequential quarter-on-quarter basis.
BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP; LSE: BLT) has won a 99.7 per cent rise in the price paid by Asian buyers for its iron ore, News.com.au reported citing Macquarie analysts.
Dragon Oil PLC (LSE: DGO) told investors that it has re-assessed its proposed corporate restructuring, announced in March 2009. Following an extensive review the company has decided against its previous plans to incorporate a new holdings company in Bermuda, instead it will remain as an Irish incorporated holdings company. Later in the week it said that, whilst it is negotiating a new crude oil swap-deal with the National Iranian Oil Company, it is making interim arrangements to market more of its crude oil production through the western sales route via Baku, Azerbaijan.
Indian power and oil company Essar Energy is set to proceed with an IPO (initial public offering) in the UK and will apply for listing on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for securities to raise some US$2.5 billion.
Balfour Beatty (LSE: BBY) has been selected for pre-construction and construction services for Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport's seven-year Terminal Development Programme, through a joint venture known as BARC.