Icap, the world's biggest inter-dealer broker, has beaten its own profit forecast for 2002 with a 39% increase in pre-tax profit.

Pre-tax profit rose 39% to £123.7m (€172.3m) in the year to March on turnover that was up 26% at £664.3m. Shareholders will be paid a final dividend of 23p, lifting the total by 25% to 30p. Icap's shares are still above the £10 mark, trading at £10.50 around 11:30 GMT.