James Halstead trading 'most heartening'

4th Dec 2009 08:00

Commercial flooring group James Halstead will pay another special dividend as most parts of the business have traded ahead of 2008's record levels in the first five months of the financial year."The general economic climate continues to be fragile and spending patterns of end users appear cautious but we are encouraged that we are trading at levels that, in most cases, exceed last year," said chairman Geoffrey Halstead in his AGM statement."Given that the half year to December 2008 was a record performance this can only be regarded as most heartening."The firm said export markets appear to be more active on a consistent month to month basis and the weakness of the pound against its major export trading currencies is helping the numbers. "We are doing well and although it is still too early in the prevailing climate to make firm predictions for the outcome for the full year I remain confident of reporting further progress," Halstead says.The company, one of AIM's larger firms at £270m, will pay a special dividend of 15p a share in late January 2010. It's made three other special payouts since January 2005.