Coca-Cola sales surge by 5 per cent

Coca-Cola regained its fizz yesterday as it said second-quarter revenues were up by 5 per cent worldwide and sales in its home market had risen by a crucial 2 per cent.

Both Coke and its rival Pepsi have been fighting flagging sales in America. But while Pepsi's results this week beat analysts' forecasts, they included a 1 per cent decline in US beverage sales. Coke, however, reported that its US sales were rising.

Its overall operating profit jumped by 13 per cent to $2.8bn (£1.84bn) in the three months to 2 July, buoyed by emerging markets. Total revenues were $8.67bn.