DMGT finance director Peter Williams confirmed that the publisher was still in the bidding process.
"Our position remains exactly as it's always been. We are interested in this asset and we openly admit we are still involved," Williams said.
However, he did not confirm whether DMGT had teamed up with private equity firms Candover and Apax Partners to buy the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.
The group put the jump in profits for the six months to April 4th down to improved performance across most of the divisions and a "patchy recovery in advertising" across its national newspaper division.
Advertising revenues for its Associated Newspaper group, which includes the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday as well as Metro and The Evening Standard, increased 6% compared to the same period last year.
Associated's display advertising revenues saw growth on a month by month basis during the period, with results for March 2004 up 13% on March last year. Retail continues to perform strongly, although the results show a small decline in motor and financial advertising.
The Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday's circulations have remained almost unchanged on the previous year, at 2,441,000 and 2,372,000 respectively, according to latest ABC figures. However The Evening Standard's average sales fell by 6% to 400,000 copies. Metro's circulation has increased by 4% to an average level of 894,000 during the period.
The group's regional newspaper division Northcliffe Newspapers showed a 9% increase in operating profit to £46.6m and on a like-for-like basis circulation revenues were up 2% on last year. Advertising revenues for the group are also up, with recruitment and property both up 8%.
On the broadcasting side the group's Teletext business showed a 2% slump in revenues, mainly due to a reduced demand for holiday advertising in the four months up to January.
In a statement the group said: "Most of the Group's business have had a good first half and this has continued into April and May. For the newspaper businesses, the nationals' circulations have remained robust and both nationals and regionals are seeing advertising revenue growth."
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