Harry Potter publisher sees magic profits

Record-breaking sales of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ensured publisher Bloomsbury broke the £20m (€28.7m) barrier for annual profits today.

The group increased its surplus by 23.6% to £20.1m (€28.7m) as it set out plans for more launches resulting from the series over the next few years, including box sets, a paperback version of the Half-Blood Prince and the seventh and final title by JK Rowling. A release date for the book has yet to be scheduled.