Orders upturn at ABB

Analysts said they are in the process of revising upwards their 1996 earnings estimates for Asea Brown Boveri after the company reported a higher than expected increase in first half orders.

They said while ABB's first-half net and operating profits were in line with expectations, they were "surprised" by the 16 pct increase in orders to $17.8 bn had been received in the first half of 1995.