WPP Group announce healthier profits

WPP Group earnings and pre-tax profits are likely to be slightly better than forecast when it reports its first-half figures this week, although revenues have remained flat. City analysts are looking for profits of about &£196m. WPP is expected to point to a limited revival in the US and Asia and a surprising upturn in Europe. But the UK remains unpromising. WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell is expected to be mildly upbeat about results in the second half, suggesting a limited sector recovery.