L'Oréal sees increase in group sales
L'Oréal saw an 8.7% increase in its group sales for first half 2006 to €7.78bn, with every division contributing to the growth. Operating profit was up 19.6% to €1.33bn, while pre-tax profit rose 19.8% to €1.5bn. The results were boosted by a return to growth in Western Europe, where sales rose 3.9% to €3.67bn, strong growth of 28% to €481m in Latin America and 26.7% to €411m in Eastern Europe. Sales grew 10.8% in Asia to €740m, while North American sales rose 9.5% to €1.96bn.