Norilsk Profits Increased

Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel announced its net income increased 7.6 percent to 24,9 billion rubles for the first half of 2005, compared with the same period last year.

Norilsk?s revenues for an accounting period increased by 14.5 percent to reach 82,56 billion rubles.

The gross profit rose 33 percent to come to 53,89 billion rubles. The sales profit rose 43 percent up to 48,48 billion rubles, pretax proceeds amounted to 35 billion rubles, up 9.3 percent.

Norilsk Nickel is the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the largest producers of platinum