Results round-up

Contracts-for-difference trading platform Plus500 reported a 25% jump in first-half revenue as net profit rose amid continued growth in active and new customers.

In the six months to the end of June, revenue rose to $158.8m from $127m in the first half of 2015, as net profit increased 10% to $44.5m.

Earnings per share edged up to $0.39 from $0.35 and the company lifted its interim dividend by 9% to $26.7m.

The number of active customers increased 12% to 104,119, while the number of new customers was up 9% to 56,929 – a record for the first half and substantially ahead of expectations, the company said.

Plus500 said that many customers who were not active prior to the EU referendum reactivated their accounts and used the platform and many new customers were added during this period due to the prolonged market volatility.

AIM listed energy investment company Plutus PowerGen’s full year losses narrowed as revenues increased.

For the year ended 30 April, the first full year since the reverse takeover of Plutus Energy, revenue increased to £887,500 from £87,500 in 2015. This was due to nine management contracts won from Rockpool Investments, which is expected to generate £1.35m a year.

Administrative expenses increased by 18% to about £1.26m.

Operating losses reduced significantly by 70% to £380,088 while losses before tax dropped to £407,776 from £1.3m the previous year.

Basic and diluted loss per share from continuing operations was 0.07p, down from 0.32p in 2015.

To fund new sites, the company is in the process of launching a bond to be listed on the ICAP Securities and Derivatives Exchange (ISDX) to raise up to £4m. The proceeds from the bond will help the company building its next three to four 20MW FlexGen or SolarFlex sites, which the company will own an 80% stake.