Nissan Motor, Japan's second-largest camaker, reported an 18.8% rise in half-year net profits boosted by gains from the sale of shares in its former truck making division.
Net profit rose to 274.18 billion yen ($2.31 billion) as revenue increased by 1% to 4.53 trillion yen in the six months to September from a year earlier, Nissan said.
Operating profit, however, slumped 15.3% to 348.65 billion yen as the group continued to struggle in its domestic market.
'As forecasted, a combination of external headwinds and a lack of new product resulted in a lower level of performance in the first six months', Nissan's CEO Carlos Ghosn said of the lower operating profit.
'In the second half, and into 2007, you will see a return to the intense product launch activity that has fueled Nissan's profitable growth in the past,' he said.
