Reuters, the UK financial news and data group under offer from America's Thomson, lost 7.1 per cent of its interim revenues to the effect of the weak dollar and the yen against the pound, sending its shares down 1.2 per cent in early trading.

Sales during the six months to June 30 reached £1.2 billion, marking an increase of 0.7 per cent on the same period last year as the impact of currency pressures reduced revenue by £85 million. It also took £25 million off Reuters’ profits which, in total, increased by 11 per cent to £136 million. Operating profits rose by 36 per cent to £134 million.

On a constant currency basis, Reuters' interim revenues rose 6.4 per cent but shares in the company fell from 625p to 617p.

Despite the decline, Reuters' shares are still trading 20 per cent above its stock just prior to the announcement that Thomson would acquire the company for £8.7 billion. Reuters said today: "We are off to a very good start in planning our integration with Thomson."

Reuters expects the European Commission's enquiry into the deal, scheduled for September, will take between five and seven weeks, as will the US Department of Justice's examination of the takeover.

The performance of Reuters' four divisions proved to be mixed throughout the past six months. Revenues in sales and trading, Reuters' largest division, fell 4 per cent to £802 million but rose 3 per cent, taking into account currency changes. Interim profit stayed flat at £118 million compared to the same period last year.

Reuters' media group reported revenue down 5 per cent to £83 million and profits down from £10 million to £5 million.

The company will pay an interim dividend of 5p, compared to last year's 4.10p.

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