BUSINESS NEWS

摘要

Lafarge is optimistic that cement demand will continue to move higher in 2012 after reporting a 5% rise in sales to €7.6 billion but a 1% dip in volumes at the half-year point. The group forecast year-on-year cement and aggregates market growth of between 1% and 4% in 2012, with emerging markets continuing to be the main driver of demand. Spanish contractor ACS booked a €962 million impairment charge on the declining value of its stake in utility company Iberdrola in the first six months of the year. This pushed it to a first half loss of €1.2 billion compared to net income of €604 million last year.