Hays profits rise despite eurozone debt crisis The company, which operates in 31 countries worldwide, saw pre-tax profits hit £60.3m during the six months ending December 31, following strong growth across its international businesses. Alistair Cox, chief executive, insisted the group's geographic and sector diversity had helped it offset the economic downturn. However, he conceded employment opportunities in the financial services sector would continue to be limited as confidence among clients remained low. "If we were just a one-trick pony operating purely in financial services then we'd have a problem," he said. But we are in all these other markets, some of which are enjoying the most exceptional growth that they've ever witnessed, like commodities. Across Continental Europe and the rest of the world fees increased by 27pc to £132.8m helped by a record performance in Germany. However, fees in the UK fell 6pc to £116.4m as private sector markets dipped alongside a weak public sector. Hays cut its interim dividend by 55pc to 0.83p - payable on April 10 - despite the strong results. "Given the slowing of our profit growth in the half and our current view on the likely growth rate of group profitability in the current uncertain economic environment, we have decided to rebase the dividend to a level that is more appropriately covered by current earnings and cash flow," Hays said in a statement. Shares in the company rose 6.65 to 87.65p following the results.