Egg failed to find a buyer last year

Pre-tax profits rose to �15m ($26.1m) in the six months to 30 June, against a loss of �1.7m a year ago.

However, operating profits fell 36% to �23m ($40m) compared with a year ago as bad debts rose to �117m from �82m.

Meanwhile, Prudential, which still owns 79% of Egg, unveiled a 31% rise in first-half operating profits.

The insurer said operating profit for the six month period was �834m ($1.45bn), up from �636m at the same time last year, on the back of a 34% sales increase.

Up for sale?

Prudential's appointment of a new chief executive in May fuelled speculation that it would revive plans to sell Egg, which failed to find a buyer in 2004.

We remain focused on optimising the performance of the Egg business and the value of the Group's investment for Prudential's shareholders Mark Tucker, Pru chief See Pru's share price See Egg's share price

Mark Tucker, who replaced Jonathan Bloomer, said on Wednesday that he was reviewing longer-term trends and opportunities, but gave no indication as to whether the review involved a sale of Egg.

"We remain focused on optimising the performance of the Egg business and the value of the Group's investment for Prudential's shareholders," said Mr Tucker.

If Prudential did sell its remaining stake in Egg, it would boost its relations with shareholders angered by last year's controversial rights issue.

The failure of the sale was seen as a major embarrassment for Mr Bloomer, who was ousted from the insurer earlier this year.

Egg - which in addition to its credit card also offers savings accounts, loans and mortgages - employs about 2,000 people in the UK.