Global mining contractor Leighton Holdings
(ASX:LEI) has defied the market by reporting a 160% leap in first-half profit to $289 million.
The company more than doubled its earnings for the six months to December 31, despite analysts predicting a poorer result, thanks to having no investment impairments and about $11 billion worth of new work for the period.
Looking ahead, the company expects its full year profit to be over $600 million.
Leighton Holdings reported a profit of $440 million for the 2009 financial year.
