Informa reported a steep decline in interim profits on the back of restructuring costs and weakness in its events business, as the publishing group warned that trading remained difficult and the outlook for 2010 was uncertain.

The publisher of Lloyd’s List saw revenue edge ahead 1 per cent to £636.3m in the six months to June 30, while pre-tax profits tumbled to £32.2m (£60m), including restructuring and reorganisation costs of £15.8m (£3m).