ON THE UP: Aggreko

AGGREKO, the world's largest renter of power generators, rose 15 per cent last week, bringing its total gain in August to 31 per cent after first-half profit rose a better-than-expected 28 per cent to pounds 10.5m.

The Glasgow-based company's International Power Projects unit - which serves customers such as BP Amoco and the Royal Dutch Shell Group - led the gain as it boosted sales outside Europe and North America by 50 per cent to pounds 16.9m, the company said.

Aggreko rents out generators during the construction of small-scale power plants. About 60 per cent of its earnings come from generator hire; 30 per cent from temperature controls, and 10 per cent from oil-free compressors used in the food industry.