Agilent Technologies sees improvement in first quarter of 2010

Agilent Technologies has expressed satisfaction with its financial performance in the first quarter of 2010 after recording an increase in revenues compared to last year.

The science and technology firm’s total revenues for the quarter ending January 31st 2010 came to $1.2 billion (765,000 pounds), representing a four per cent increase on last year’s first quarter.

It described this performance as a continuation of the strong momentum experienced at the end of 2009, driven by revenue increases in its life sciences, chemical analysis and computer divisions.

Bill Sullivan, Agilent’s president and chief executive, stated that it remains too early in the year to make confident predictions about future prospects, but nevertheless forecast further growth for Agilent.

He said: “Our orders suggest that the momentum will continue at a moderate pace, with broadening of the recovery across most markets and geographies as the year unfolds.”

Earlier this month, the company appointed Robert Schueren and John Fjeldsted to executive leadership roles in its biological systems division in a move to improve performance further.