Shares in Intertek fall 4.7 percent after it says that asharper-than-expected decline in its minerals business would drag on its profitmargin for the year.
Will Kirkness from Jefferies, who has an "underperform" rating on theshares, says that, although he estimates minerals only account for 5 percent ofgroup revenues, it is skewed towards higher margin activities such as gold andiron ore exploration activities in the Pacific rim.
Analysts were forecasting a pre-tax profit of 352.7 million pounds for 2013before this morning's trading update, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Kirkness said that he believes the news will lead to a mid single digitdowngrade to consensus figures.
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Intertek Group (ITRK)
