The Japanese company’s earnings for the six months to 30 September should be as much as 40% higher than anticipated, a statement said.

Net earnings should come in at around JPY 5.6bn ($57m) against a previous forecast of JPY 4bn.

The result would also overturn a loss of JPY 1.4bn seen in the first half of 2012.

NS United revised its revenue forecast upwards by 5.6%