Can-maker Rexam boosts profits

Consumer packaging giant Rexam today said it was on course for a successful year after acquisitions and price increases helped lift interim profits 14%.

The British blue-chip company, which produces more than 40 billion drinks cans a year, said it achieved the improvement to £80m (€118.8m) in the six months to June 30 despite the impact of higher costs and the weakness of the US dollar.