City File: BET to report solid interim profits

THE industrial services group BET is expected to report solid interim profits tomorrow. But any improvement may arise only from the absence of losses at discontinued operations and a lower interest charge. BET is in the middle of a big divestment programme and has sold a hatful of subsidiaries, including Rediffusion Music/Reditune for pounds 18m and Hireplant for pounds 10.8m. The company's brokers, BZW, expect a reduced interim dividend of 1p but a near 5 per cent rise for the full-year payout from 3.25p to 3.4p.

BZW says pricing and margins remain under presure in most areas because of overcapacity and weak demand in some areas. Only a hold.