Noble Profits Soar

NEW YORK - Aug 14/07 - SNS -- Noble Group reported a net profit of U.S. $99.529 million on sales of $10,060.485 million for the six months ending June 30, compared to a net of $60.048 million mon sales of $6,144.969 million the first half of the previous fiscal year.

Noble said its commodity related segments: Agriculture, Energy and Metals, Minerals and Ores reported a combined 61% increase in revenues for the first half 2007 led by strong growth in tonnage volume which rose 47%. Gross profits for the commodity related businesses rose 24% in first half 2007 compared to the first half 2006.

Logistics segment revenues doubled in first half 2007 with a substantial increase in gross profits reflecting the Chartering division’s increasingly integrated and efficient operations.

The return on shareholder’s equity was 20.8%. Earnings per share rose to US 4.04 cents per share for the first half 2007 compared to US 2.5 cents per share for the first half 2006.