Double cheer for Antofagasta

COPPER miner Antofagasta today celebrated its entry into the FTSE 100 index by announcing a doubling of profits and the promise of increased production in the current year.

The soaring price of copper helped boost 2003 profits by 102% to $357m (£193m). The London-listed Chilean group displayed its confidence by lifting the total dividend by 25% to 35 cents.