POWER PRESENTATION: German utility E.ON stuck to its annual outlook and posted a sharp increase in first-half earnings thanks to new gas deals with Russia.

THE NUMBERS: First-half net income attributable to shareholders rose to €2.9 billion ($3.6 billion) during the period, up from €691 million last year. The company did not provide second-quarter figures. Overall net income spiked to €3.1 billion from €948 million during the first half of 2011. The increase in profit came largely due to a new agreement on long-term gas supply contracts with Russian gas producer Gazprom OAO.

NO THANKS TO NUCLEAR: The Russian deal helped offset lower sales from its power-generation segment, which has suffered from Germany's decision to shut down its nuclear power stations. Two of E.ON's nuclear reactors were among eight power plants that were switched off in Germany last year after Japan's Fukushima reactor disaster.