CRH profits fall 27% to €534m

BUILDING materials group CRH which is ranked number two in the world among its peers, saw its pre-tax profits dive by 27% to €534 million in 2010.

Total sales fell 1% to €17.2bn which rises to 7% when acquisitions and currency factors are taken into the equation.

Results from the group were in line with, or better than, market expectations and the shares traded higher during the day, despite the drop in performance.