China cheers up Pernod profits

STRONG growth in emerging markets such as China and India will help steer Scotland's second-biggest whisky producer towards higher first-half profits.

Pernod Ricard, the French drinks giant that owns premium whisky brands Glenlivet and Chivas Regal, expects its first-half operating profit to rise 8 per cent.

Issuing a brief trading update yesterday, Pernod said overall like-for-like sales rose 5 per cent, in line with management expectations.