Building materials group CRH posted a slightly better-than-expected 16 per cent rise in pretax profit today and said the outlook for 2006 was generally positive.
CRH said profit before tax in the year to end-December rose to €1.28 billion from €1.1 billion a year earlier.
Sales came in at €14.4 billion, up 13 per cent, while earnings per share climbed 14 per cent to 186.7 cents from 163.6 cents.
"While as always risks remain, the current business outlook is on the whole positive and we enter 2006 with good momentum," chief executive Liam O'Mahony said in a statement.
He said a gradual pick-up in European economies seemed under way and that although US housing may moderate, non-residential construction there should continue to recover, and highway markets would be underpinned by passage of the new Highway Bill.