South African glass packaging firm Consol, lifted interim earnings 4.7% in March, saying it planned to boost market share and post a solid performance in the second half. Headline earnings per share rose to 58.2 cents, from 55.6 cents in the previous period. Headline earnings per share strip out capital, non-trading and one-off items. "Trading conditions are expected to remain positive, driven by continued good growth in gross domestic product and consumer disposable income," the group said in a statement to the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. Low interest rates, tax cuts and subdued inflation have boosted the South African consumer's disposable income and the economy grew by an annualised 4% during the fourth quarter of 2004. The firm said it would focus on operational efficiencies, lowering costs and increasing market share.
