Companies: AIP   

Shares in air charter broker Air Partner soared 29p to 330p, against 52-week highs and lows of 352.5p and 145p. The upward movement followed strong interim figures to January during 'some of the most challenging market conditions the air transportation industry has ever seen'. Pre-tax profits rose 28% to £1.6m, despite a softening in sales from £46.3m to £44.8m. Earnings per share glided up 54% to 10.8p. Chairman Tony Mack said there had been a surge in interest in its evacuation programme post-11 September. The number of customers for emergency planning division has risen from 10 to 22 since the Manhattan disaster. Mack said trading was very positive, with forward bookings 27% ahead of last year. House broker Beeson Gregory upped its pre-tax profit forecast by 28% to £3.2m for the current year to July. This puts the shares on a p/e of 15, against the 28 sector average. The shares are good value on these robust figures.