InBev, the owner of Stella Artois and Beck’s beer, on Thursday said it had gained market share in every region except the UK as it reported unexpectedly strong fourth-quarter and full-year profits.

The Belgian brewer’s shares rose €5.07, or 9.6 per cent, to €58.02 after it said earnings increased 24 per cent in the fourth quarter to €1.34bn ($2.04bn). Full-year earnings for 2007 were up 16.5 per cent to €4.9bn.