Compaq's full-year profit of $213 million was up 63 percent from the previous year.

Bayer said it expected full-year profit to be better than the $975 million of 2001.

It now expects full-year profit of $1.65 to $1.85 a share.

The company earned $35 million for all of 2003, its first full-year profit since it began operations in 1995.

Analysts expect full-year profits of £250m compared with Pounds 222m.

Some analysts expect the airline to show a full-year profit for the first time since 2000.

It said the extra charge, to be taken as exceptional, would lower its full-year profit due in May by about £25m.

Its full-year profit for 2005 was almost even with that the year before, at about $800 million.

It means full-year profits will be "significantly lower" than forecast, the company said.

Analysts are looking for full-year profits approaching £160m, after the important second half.