The Character Group expects in line annual results

The Character Group's shares surged after saying it expects "satisfactory" full year results in line with market expectations on the back of solid growth in international sales. The developer and distributor of toys, games and giftware said the loss reported in the first half will be reversed with licenses, an enhanced products portfolio and planned new innovative introductions coming on stream in the autumn/winter and spring sales seasons."Although we are only at the start of the new financial year, we are encouraged to report that the Group's forecasted sales remain on track for the 2013 calendar year, which should lead to a substantially better result for the 2014 financial year," the firm said in a statement. Shares rose 4.33% to 144.50p at 09:46 on Friday.RD