Balfour Beatty 'making progress' in 2009

Balfour Beatty expects its orderbook is "broadly in line" with the £12.8bn it reported for 31 December 2008.

The company made the prediction as part of a trading update ahead of its half-year results announcement on 12 August.

It added that it expects to "make progress" in 2009, and its cash position remains "strong" with average net cash in excess of £200m for the first six months of 2009.

The company said that it expected to reach financial close on the £147m Carlisle Northern Development route, which has been dogged by delays since Balfour was appointed last year.