MEDIA group Reuters Holdings raised its interim dividend yesterday by 19.6 per cent on an 18.8 per cent rise in half year profits.

It made £342 million sterling before tax in the six months to June 30th, compared with £288 million in the first half of 1995.

The dividend payout is being raised to 2.75p, from 2.3p. Earnings per share improved to 14.6p from 12.31.

There was no definite news on the timetable for the expected share buy back designed to hand out surplus cash to investors.

"We still expect to resolve this issue by the end of this year," said chief executive, Mr Peter Job.

He said the launch of the new 3000 range of financial information products would restrict the group's revenue growth in revenue in the short term. "Accordingly, the 18 month period ahead of us will be primarily one of investment," he said.