Yell profits up despite tough US

Yell is sticking to its full year targets

Directories firm Yell Group has seen its half-year profits jump 39%, despite experiencing tough competition for its operations in the US.

The UK-based company made a pre-tax profit of £122m ($253m) in the six months to 30 September, up from £87m for the same period in 2006.

Yell's group-wide revenues rose 14% to £965m from £849m a year earlier.

Despite extensive price cuts in the US, Yell said revenues at its main US Yellow Book unit rose 1.8%.

The firm said it was now sticking to its existing profit target for the full-year.

"We have made good progress in the first half of this challenging year and have strengthened the foundations of future growth across the group," said Yell's chief executive John Condron.