London Capital Group Holdings Share News (LCG)

Market volatility in the second half of 2011 was a boon to spread betting firm London Capital Group (LCG) as it registered record trade volumes.Full year revenues jumped 13% to hit £39.0m, up from £34.5m in 2010, as clients chanced their arm in volatile markets.Adjusted profit before tax rose 9% to £7.1m from £6.5m the year before at the company behind the Capital Spreads platform in the UK but which offers other products abroad, notably contracts for difference (CFDs).Average revenue per user climbed 7% to £1,370 (2010: £1,279) for the year, although recruitment of new clients slowed to 10,398 (2010: 12,036).Earnings per share were positive at 8.64p, versus a loss per share of 0.09p in 2010.The full year dividend has been whacked up to 3.9p from 1p the year before. Commenting on the results, Simon Denham, Chief Executive, said: "Despite a difficult start to 2011 the group has delivered a strong set of results and made positive inroads operationally and financially. We are particularly delighted to have improved our scalability, competitive position and to have developed our international operations further." Shares in London Capital had risen 6.7% by 09:24. The group's stock is still down 6.3% over the last 12 months.BS