BOC group expected to make strong report

BOC Group, the British gases supplier, is poised to report another robust performance despite tough operating conditions when it updates the City on first quarter trading on Tuesday.

NatWest Stockbrokers is predicting a 14.3% lift in pre-tax profits for the quarter to £97.5m, from £83.6m last time.

Cost-cutting programmes and efficiency improvements are expected to have offset the impact of higher pension costs for the group and its exposure to currency fluctuations through its overseas divisions.