BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Following growth in the second quarter, the radiation and medical technology group Eckert & Ziegler is becoming more optimistic for 2024. With an unchanged sales target of just under 265 million euros, the company's management is now planning earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of around 55 million euros, adjusted for special effects, according to a statement on Tuesday. This is around 5 million euros more than previously announced.

The shares rose on the news and led the second-line index SDax in the afternoon with a plus of 4.7 percent to 46.58 euros. This enabled them to attempt to break out of the short-term correction trend since the end of June.

According to preliminary figures, the operating result for the second quarter rose by almost half to 17.5 million euros. The surplus increased from 6.2 to 9.5 million euros. Turnover grew by almost 30 percent to 77.8 million euros.

Eckert & Ziegler plans to publish the complete figures for the first half of the year on August 9 /mis/jha/.