Diageo boosted by 5% jump in Irish sales

A 5% jump in Irish sales helped drinks giant Diageo beat half-year earnings and sales forecasts, which in turn drove its shares to a record high.

The world's largest drinks group - which owns the likes of Guinness, Baileys, Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker - said net sales rose nearly 6%, year-on-year, to £6.9bn (€7.9bn) in the six months to the end of December. Operating profits jumped 11% to £2.4bn.