THE DAILY BRIEFING

SALES SUCCESS Telecommunications firm arqiva toasted record sales for the first half of the year.

The company, which provides communications infrastructure for mobile operators and TV and radio broadcasters, said sales were up 10pc to £466m thanks to cost cutting measures.

The firm last week revealed it had teamed up with samsung to launch a trial of 5G services, in a move that could put it in competition with BT Group’s Openreach.

NEW PROGRAMME FTse 100 medical products maker convaTec has launched a recovery programme for stoma patients.

The reading-based firm, which makes and distributes ostomy accessories for people with a stoma, an artificial opening where bodily waste is discharged, said the me+ recovery programme will provide advice and support about the importance of movement and physical activity after stoma surgery. shares were up 1pc, or 2.4p, at 234.1p.

DIVI DELIGHT regeneration specialist MJ Gleeson raised its dividend after profits increased. The company will pay an interim dividend of 6.5p a share, up from 4.5p last year. It came as the firm (up 1.3pc, or 7.5p, to 588.5p) reported a 1.8pc rise in profits to £11.5m for the first half of the year.

PLANE SAILING uK aerospace manufacturers had a record order book of aircraft engines in January, figures show.

Industry body aDs said that an order for 624 single aisle engines in January means manufacturers now have a total backlog of 23,392 to deliver. The group said that last month 69 aircraft also rolled off production lines, with a value of up to £1.4bn for the economy.

MINE JOB anglo american has appointed a non-executive director. nolitha Fakude, 52, was an executive at south african chemicals and energy company sasol and chair of its mining board until the end of last year. she will start her new role at the miner’s aGM on april 24.

■ GOLD STRIKE acacia Mining believes it has found more than a million ounces of gold in western Kenya. The company announced an ‘ inferred mineral resource’ – when mineral content is estimated from geological evidence but not yet fully verified – at its project in the Liranda corridor. It plans to drill this year.