Harry Potter publisher boosted by best-sellers

Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury today said it was “back on track” after it enjoyed a strong run of best-selling hits.

The group, which issued a profits warning in December, said it had seen one of the most sustained periods of best-sellers between April and June, boosted by hits such as 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini and export orders for the final Harry Potter book.

However, with the magic of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' not set to benefit the group until later in the year, pre-tax profits came in 8.5% lower at £3.9m (€5.6m) for the six months to June 30, despite a 36.5% leap in revenues to £51.4m (€74m).

Chairman Nigel Newton said: “This is a strong set of results which puts us back on track following last year’s profits warning.”