THE DAILY BRIEFING

SALES JOY Computing parts seller Electrocomponents says it thinks profits for the full-year will beat expectations.

The firm, dubbed the ‘Amazon for engineers’ said an 8pc rise in sales in the fourth quarter, coupled with strong growth in North America and a favourable currency impact, were the reasons for optimism.

NUMBERS SOAR Low-cost airline EasyJet carried 6.3m passengers last month, 10.6pc up on the year before. It has carried more than 76m people in the year to March 31.

DMGT APPOINTMENT The Daily Mail and General Trust, which owns the Daily Mail, has appointed Tim Collier as its new chief finance officer from May 2. Collier, 53, joins from news service Thomson Reuters, where he is chief finance officer of the financial and risk business.

MYSALE SWOOP Mysale, the online retailer backed by Sir Philip Green and Mike Ashley, has bought Australian gift firm Identity Direct out of administration for £1.6m.

NEW RECRUIT South Americafocused oil and gas producer Amerisur Resources has appointed Dana Coffield to the board as a non-executive director. The former chief executive of Gran Tierra Energy is also chief executive of Corvus Resources Inc.

LOSSES NARROW Africa-focused oil and gas company Aminex saw its losses narrow last year, from £3m to £2m. Chairman Brian Hall said 2016 was a landmark year for the company in Tanzania, with production started at its Kiliwani North-1 well.

PROFITS DIP Aim-listed explorer Serica Energy said gross profits fell from £13m to £5.3m last year when one of its key North Sea fields had to be temporarily shut due to equipment problems.

LICENCE HOPE Bosses at controversial white goods lender BrightHouse think they are on track to get a full consumer credit licence from the Financial Conduct Authority.

Its rent-to-own model sees customers pay for their purchases over many years and has been strongly criticised over its charges.

PAIR CLEARED Two former Barclays traders have been cleared of conspiracy in the Libor rate-rigging scandal’s latest twist.

Stylianos Contogoulas and Ryan Reich were found not guilty by a unanimous jury at Southwark Crown Court in London.