Potter works magic on Bloombury's bottom line

The launch of the latest Harry Potter book helped London-based publishing house Bloomsbury boost sales and see pre-tax profit leap 38.3% to £15.38m, in 2003.

Overall sales were up 22.2% to €83.11m. Children's sales jumped 37.1% to £52.29m and adult sales increased 6.7% to £18.37m, with Donna Tartt's "The Little Friend" this years bestseller in this category.