UK shipbroking giant Clarksons has upped its profit guidance again as it enjoyed a better than expected end to last year.
The London-listed group said underlying profit before tax will now be at least £69m ($93m) for 2021, up from the £65m forecast in its last update on 6 December.
The company added that trading during the month of December was "stronger than anticipated".
Areas which outperformed expectations last month included the broking division, where the sale and purchase team completed a number of asset transactions.
The financial division also prospered as the project finance and securities desks sealed more deals.
The full-year results are due on 7 March.
Stronger second half overall
The previous forecast in December was spurred by a healthier second half of 2021 in booming markets.
The underlying profit before tax in the whole of 2020 was £44.7m.
The broker finished the first six months of last year with earnings of £27.5m.
Overall revenue rose by 5.4% from 2020 to reach £190.1m between January and June of 2021.
On 2 December, huge US investment management firm BlackRock strengthened its position as one of the broker's biggest shareholders.
According to a regulatory filing, the New York-based company increased its stake to 5.38% in the London-listed group on 30 November.
The holding was worth £59m at the time.
Fidelity Management & Research is reported as the biggest investor with 6.89%, followed by RS Platou Holding on 6.62%.
BlackRock now ranks next, while the only other shareholder above 5% is Barclays on 5.34%.
