Profits surge higher at Unilever

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Three-month profits have surged at the consumer products firm Unilever, which makes brands such as Persil, PG Tips, Pot Noodle and Peperami.

Pre-tax profits at current exchange rates rose 83% to 2.5bn euros ($3.3bn; �2bn) between July and September.

Unilever's boss says the gains were due to cost-cutting and sales holding up despite price rises.

There were also some disposals in the period, such as its American detergents business and US sauces brands.

Unilever sold its laundry business in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada, which includes brands such as Snuggle, Surf and Sunlight, to the private equity group Vestar Capital for $1.45bn in July.

It also sold its Lawry's and Adolph's sauces and seasoning in the US and Canada for 410m euros.

Disposals generated a pre-tax profits of 1.6bn euros in the first nine months of the year.

Shares in the Anglo-Dutch company rose 1.6% in early trading in London.

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