RIYADH, 6 July 2005 — Yanbu Cement Co. half year profits rose 0.3 percent to SR215 million ($57.3 million), the company said yesterday. Yanbu Cement shares were down 1.1 percent at SR718.25 at the close of morning trade. Meanwhile, Tabuk Cement reported a 26 percent rise in first-half profits to SR74 million ($20 million) on Monday. Second-quarter profits were SR40 million, up 21 percent from the same period last year, it said. Tabuk Cement shares were trading at SR518 after the announcement, up just over 1 percent from Sunday’s close.