BUDGET airline Ryanair has raised its growth targets and unveiled plans to return up to €1 billion (£852 million) to investors over the coming years. The Irish carrier aims to carry 110 million passengers in the year to March 2019, up from its previous target of 100 million. That compares with current traffic of about 80 million. Ryanair, headed by chief executive Michael O'Leary, plans to buy back about €400m of shares next year, before embarking on buy-backs and special dividends worth up to €600m in 2015, "subject to current fuel, yields and profitability trends continuing." Chemicals transportation specialist Interbulk yesterday revealed a slump in first-half profits on the back of "depressed" demand across Europe. The East Kilbride-based firm also said earnings were hit by a restructuring at its European operations, where it reduced staff numbers to bring the business "into line with prevailing market conditions." Revenues during the six months to 31 March fell 6 per cent compared with the same period last year to £132.8 million, while operating profits plunged 43 per cent to £3.8m. Bob Dudley, the BP chief executive, said the oil major would look at direct participation in "really difficult" Russian onshore oil ventures with Rosneft, which already has an exploration deal with ExxonMobil. Rosneft confirmed at an annual general meeting yesterday that Dudley would have a seat on its board after BP's acquisition of a 20 per cent stake earlier this year. BP lost previous exploration deals focused on Russia's Arctic offshore fields to Exxon. Statoil and Eni also have exploration ventures in the Arctic. Equipment rental firm Ashtead posted an 87 per cent jump in profit yesterday and raised its forecast for 2014, reaping the rewards of a structural shift to renting in its core US construction market. The firm, which hires out diggers and power tools on short-term contracts, made an underlying pre-tax profit of £247 million, ahead of analysts" forecasts of £237m. Revenue grew 19 per cent to £1.36 billion. Ashtead, which gets some 95 per cent of its operating profit from its US operation Sunbelt Rentals, said it spent £521m renewing its fleet of equipment.