Financial services firm WH Ireland PLC (LON:WHI) said today that it expects a significant improvement in its financial results for the first half of 2017, lifted by strong performances in both its corporate and institutional broking divisions which were in turn boosted by an upturn client demand dating back to last year.
"The first half figures will show a significant improvement on those for the previous year," the firm said in a trading update.
"Our pipeline of new business is at the highest that it has been for several years reflecting not just an increased appetite for new issuance by existing clients, but also the result of new growth initiatives within the division beginning to contribute to revenue," it added.
The firm's private wealth management division continued to progress and its wealth planning business had a particularly strong first half, the firm said, adding that its assets under management had risen above £3bln with its discretionary fund management service remaining its fastest growing area.
Looking further ahead, the firm's board remains "cautiously optimistic" despite the obvious headwinds around both UK politics and the economy, it added.
The firm also said its accounting reference date will to 31 March from 30 November with immediate effect. It expects to release its financial reports for the six months ending May on or around 24 July and a second set of results for the six months ending November 2017 by the end of January 2018. The firm's final results for the 16 month period ending March 2018 are due by the end of June 2018.