Orange has a zest for life on the markets

NEWS Shares in mobile phone operator Orange have risen slightly on full year results showing the firm breaking into pre-tax profit for the first time. In mid-morning trading, shares in Orange were up E0.27 (8p), or 3.5 per cent to E7.07 (£4.36), on the French Bourse. Orange made E386,000 (£238,000) before tax on revenue of E15.1m (£9.3m) - up 25 per cent on the previous year. Group chief executive Jean- François Pontal said he is pleased with Orange's performance, which is better than the company expected at the time of flotation in Paris last year. Shares in parent company France Telecom also rose on the news.