Builder's merchant Travis Perkins plc (LON:TPK) posted higher profits and revenue but reported a hit from the EU referendum, knocking its shares.
Travis, which owns Wickes and Toolstation among other businesses, boosted like-for-like revenue in the six months to June 30 by 3.1% from a year earlier to £3.1bn.
Adjusted operating profit increased 4.9% to £194mln while adjusted earnings per share lifted 7.7% to 58.4p and the interim dividend rose 3.4% to 15.25p per share. Pre-tax profits were 10.7% up at £176mln.
But shares in the group fell 35p, or 2.3%, to 1,509p after it reported a downturn before and after the EU vote on June 23.
Other businesses have noted a weakening in consumer confidence as people rein back purchases of big-ticket items in the wake of the referendum.
Chief executive John Carter said: "It is clear that the result of the EU referendum has created significant uncertainty in the outlook for our end markets and we did experience weaker demand in the run-up to and immediately following the referendum.
"Our two-year like-for-like sales in July have been below the levels we experienced in the second quarter.
"However, we have seen a gradual improvement through the course of the month.
"In our view, it is too early to precisely predict end market demand and we will continue to monitor the lead indicators we track and will react accordingly."