Today, Computershare predicted that the company's per share earnings for 2010's first-half could rise by 20% as compared to the first and second halves of the 2009 financial year, an announcement which has managed to delight investors who had previously been informed that they should expect a "modest" growth for the year.

The numbers have been released by the global share registry company right ahead of its first-half results which are due to be released on February 10.

Computershare, however, did stress that the second half of the current financial year up-to June 30 might just not be as strong as the first one. Over all, the numbers are still pointing to a hike in the complete year earnings, as long as the second half does not end up falling year-on-year.

Chief Executive of the firm, Stuart Crosby, shared that the somewhat rocky first-half has actually worked in the company's favor. “What we're trying to flag is that people shouldn't necessarily put a straight line (from the first half) to the second half and say that's where earnings are going", he said.

On the news, shares of the company hiked by 8.1% to trade at a new high of A$12.39.