Senior feels buoyed by recovery in aviation

Profits are taking off at manufacturer Senior after bullish recovery signs from the global aviation industry.

Its shares soared more than 8% today as its aerospace division benefited from increased production of Lockheed Martin's C130J military aircraft and Boeing 787 airliners, triggering a profits upgrade.

Senior, which makes airframe structures and flexible wing joints, expects aerospace markets to remain strong as Airbus and Boeing step up build rates over the next four years. The two manufacturing giants said at last week's Paris Airshow that they now expect to deliver 40% more aircraft in 2014 than they did in 2010.

Despite an uncertain economic climate, Senior's American and German arms have also benefited from recovering demand for trucks, boosting margins and profits in the first half of the year.

RBS analyst Andrew Douglas raised his full-year profit forecast by 8% to £74.5 million.

He said: "Senior is consistently very strong in terms of execution and being a strategically important supplier to its customers."