Sales rise boosts Vodafone shares

MOBILE phone giant Vodafone notched up its eighth consecutive quarter of rising sales after hitting a better-thanexpected 2.2 per cent rise in revenues.

Shares were up more than four per cent after the company said its preferred measure of performance, group organic service revenue, edged up 2.2 per cent to €12.3 billion (£10.3bn) in the first quarter to June 30.

However, organic service revenue for the UK was down 3.2 per cent over the period to €1.8bn (£1.5bn) after problems with a new billing system sparked customer complaints.

Group revenue slipped 4.5 per cent to €13.4bn (£11.3bn).