Jarir Profits Up 16.5 Percent

RIYADH, 27 April 2004 — Jarir Marketing Company has made a profit of SR33.5 million in the first quarter of 2004. It represents an increase of 16.5 percent over the SR28.7 million profit in the same period last year. The figures were higher than expected, according to Muhammad Al-Akeel, Jarir’s chairman. The performance was primarily due to increased sales during the first quarter. These were up 27.4 percent - from SR159.3 million to SR202.9 million. The profit per share for this period rose to SR6.97, compared with SR5.99 last year.