PP Group reported a 32 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to $478 million on a 6 per cent revenue increase to nearly $4.65 billion for the first six months of 2005, compared to the same period a year ago. In constant currency terms, excluding the effects of monetary fluctuations, the company�s global revenue growth was nearly 22 per cent for the first half of the year. Estimated net new business billings for the period were $3.5 billion.

WPP�s Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and Middle East regions scored a nearly 13 per cent rise in revenue for the first six months, followed by North America (6 per cent), Europe (4 per cent) and the U.K. (2.7 per cent). On a constant currency basis, all operating regions tallied double-digit growth.... more