PROFITS AND DIVIDENDS UP IN 1963 based on Financial Times report
rofits reported by industrial companies during 1963 showed an incroase of 4.5% ovor those for their previous accounting poriods, This contrasts with 1962 when profits wure 2.8% down on the companies! preceding financial years. “quity earnings have risen by less — they are up by 2.0% But equity dividends, up 6.8% have risen considerably more than cither gross profits, cr oquity earnings. The corresponding figure for 1962 was 3.1% At the head of tho profits list were Motors, Cycles and Compononts (up 20%), followed by ifiscellancous Textiles (up 17%), then Blectricals (Ligh) and Blectricals (Heavy), both 13%.
The Financial Times reporter comments: "The improvement shown in profits can be attributed to two main factors, One is the Government's expansionary programme, which is now having a steadily growing impact. The other is the increased offort made by many companies, large and small, to raise efficiency of their operations and reduce their costs." The rise in dividends is set dow as boing a “reflection of the increasing confidence of company directors in the business outlook,"