Operating profit from continuing operations improved to 6.9 million Euro (2010: 0.2 million)."During the first half of 2011, our continuing business activities benefited from favourable market conditions, returns on investments made in 2010 and tight control of costs," says Dermot Smurfit, Chairman of Powerflute.Disposal of the Graphic Papers business for a total consideration of 38.5 million Euro in May 2011, generating a significant return on the Group’s initial investment.Strong performance from the Packaging Papers business as favourable market conditions encountered in the second half of 2010 continued into 2011."Despite an increasingly uncertain economic environment, we currently expect market conditions to remain broadly favourable for Packaging Papers for the remainder of the year. Capital investment projects completed during 2010 and the first half of 2011 are expected to yield further benefits during the second half of the year and we remain confident that the Group will continue to perform well," Dermot Smurfit continues.Capital projects completed at Savon Sellu mill in Finland during the annual maintenance shutdown are expected to yield benefits in the second half./KB