Shares in sugar group Tate and Lyle rose almost 9% today amid hopes that it would continue to pay a dividend.
Investors responded positively after the group's chief executive, Iain Ferguson, said the company was "confident of our ability to deliver positive cash flows".
This was taken as a signal that the FTSE 250 group would maintain its payout to shareholders.
Many companies have ditched their dividends this year in a bid to cut costs.
Tate and Lyle said it had reduced net debt to less than £1.25bn at 31 March, around £300m less than at 31 December and more than £150m lower than where it was a year ago, after adjusting for the effects of movements in exchange rates.
The group said pre-tax profit for the year to 31 March was expected to be marginally below its previous guidance, however.
The shares gained 8.6% to 281.5p.
