Axiata Q2 profit jumps 44pc

Axiata Group Bhd (6888), a mobile telecoms group, said second quarter net profit jumped 44 per cent from a year ago, driven by foreign exchange gains and a better showing by its units, especially Celcom.

The net profit of RM526.84 million is also its best quarterly performance since its listing a year ago.Axiata, which has more than 100 million customers spread over seven countries, also thinks it can almost meet its main financial targets for this year.It aims to grow revenue by 6-11 per cent and operating profit or Ebitda by 4-6 per cent, among others.Ebitda, or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, rose 2 per cent to RM1.24 billion from a year ago. Its revenue rose by 7.8 per cent to RM3.16 billion during the period, against RM2.93 billion last year