UNITED CARPETS>>>THE LATEST INFORMATION

Retailer Carpetright posted interim numbers that were not as glum as some analysts had feared and its shares rose 19p to 1,025p. In the 26 weeks to October 29th, pre-tax profits slid 18.9% to 24.9 million pounds, with basic earnings per share coming in at 25.3p, a 15.1% year-on-year fall. The interim dividend was maintained at 19.0p. The company accepted markets were tough, but was upbeat on its prospects and said it expected to outperform the challenging market going forward. Seymour Pierce said that, given the robustness of the management's view on prospects, it would leave its 2006 pre-tax profits estimate unchanged at 55 million pounds and its 2007 forecast at 58 million pounds, excluding property profits.