LUCAS Industries, the British car and aircraft parts group, predicted a strong second half of the financial year after reporting a 38 per cent rise in earnings in the first six months. The group reported pre tax profits in the six months to the end of January of £61.6 million sterling, up from £44.5 million in the corresponding period a year earlier. The interim dividend is maintained at 2.1p on earnings per share of 3.9p, a penny higher than last time.