LONDON (ShareCast) - Dart Group shares rose after the leisure and travel company posted a 14% increase in first half underlying pre-tax profit to £71.7m.
Revenue in the six months ended 30 September increased 15% to £902.2m, driven by growth in the leisure travel division.
However, including the impact of an EU court decision, the group's pre-tax profit fell 8% to £71.7.

The EU's Supreme Court rejected Jet2.com's appeal of an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal regarding a delay to one of its Jet2.com aircraft due to a technical hitch.

The group has made an exceptional provision of £17m for possible passenger compensation claims.

Looking ahead, the firm is "optimistic" of achieving market expectations for full-year operating profit, before adjusting for the exceptional provision of £17m.

Winter 2014/15 leisure travel bookings are continuing to perform in line with expectations, the company added. The interim dividend was raised 25% to 0.75p.

Shares rose 2.57% to 259p at 10:44 on Thursday.

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